Concert performance by Iranian singer evacuated after 'bomb threat'

Hammersmith Apollo is evacuated during performance by legendary Iranian pop singer and anti-regime activist after ‘bomb threat’ – sparking protests outside the venue with crowds chanting ‘woman, life, liberty’

• Thousands of people were evacuated during a performance by Dariush tonight
• The 71-year-old artist is an anti-regime activist who has lived in exile for decades
• It comes after police received an anonymous threat against the concert venue
• The move sparked protests, with people calling for the end to the Iranian regime

The Hammersmith Apollo has been evacuated during a performance by an Iranian pop singer after a ‘bomb threat’.

People attending a concert by Dariush Eghbali were told to leave the famous arena tonight after a ‘credible threat of a potential bomb’, it is being reported.

Thousands of audience members have been moved outside the venue after police received an ‘anonymous call’ making threats to the concert earlier this evening. 

According to Fardad Farahzad, a journalist at Engish-language Persian news site Iran International, the venue was evacuated after ‘serious security threats’. 

In a post on Twitter he wrote: ‘People have been asked to evacuate by police at the concert of the Iranian singer, Dariush in London due to serious security threats. I’ve been told by his manager that the police said there was a credible threat of a potential bomb at the venue.’ 

The building was then emptied sparking demonstrations, with some of those who were attending the concert protesting against the Iranian regime.

The news outlet claims that some people at the event chanted slogans such as ‘death to Khamenei’ and ‘woman, life, liberty’ while outside the venue.

People attending a concert at the Hammersmith Apollo were evacuated tonight after a ‘bomb threat’

There have been demonstrations against the Iranian regime outside the venue following the evacuation of the building. Pictured is one person appearing to shout to the crowd

The latter of these is a popular Kurdish slogan which has been chanted in recent weeks by people protesting against the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was taken into custody by Iran’s morality police.

On the Apollo’s website it describes Dariush as ‘one of the most well known and loved Iranian singers of all time’, adding he was back performing on stage in London for the first time in seven years.

The 71-year-old has been living in exile from Iran since the Islamic Revolution and has spoken out about the death of Ms Amini to his 4.2million followers on Instagram.

In September the singer was seen at a rally against Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi outside the United Nations in New York.

The Metropolitan Police has said it received an anonymous call making a threat against the venue this evening and while there was ‘nothing to indicate’ it was genuine, management at the Apollo decided to evacuate as a precaution.

In a statement it said: ‘At 20:06hrs on Sunday, October 9, police received an anonymous call making a threat towards a music venue which officers subsequently determined was likely to be the Eventim Apollo in Queen Caroline Street, W6.

‘There was nothing to indicate that the threat made was genuine but at 20:21hrs officers attended the venue to speak to security staff and to determine whether they were aware of anything suspicious or otherwise of concern.

‘Nothing of suspicion had been brought to the attention of staff but at around 20:40hrs, the venue management took the decision to evacuate as a precaution.

‘Officers are on scene to provide reassurance and to ensure the safe departure of those who have now left the building.

‘There are no reports of any injuries and no items of suspicion have been found’.

The evacuation of the building and subsequent demonstrations have caused disruption, with Transport for London saying it blocked bus services in the Hammersmith area.

More to follow… 

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