The iconic Hammersmith Apollo, where legendary Iranian singer Dariush Eghbali was due to perform tonight, was evacuated and the show called off – protesters had been outside protesting against the Iranian regime
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A major London music venue has been evacuated after an anonymous “bomb” threat.
Footage shared on social media shows huge crowds gathered outside the Hammersmith Apollo this evening.
Iranian pop star Dariush Eghbali, who has been living in exile since Iran’s Islamic Revolution, was performing at the venue this evening.
He shot to fame with his ballad “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”, although in recent years he has recorded protest songs against Iran’s political system.
Pop music was banned in Iran following the 1979 revolution.
The Met Police said they received an anonymous call making a threat towards the Eventim Apollo at shortly after 8pm this evening.
Managers at the nightspot decided to evacuate the 3,000 concert-goers after officers informed them of the security risk.
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A spokesperson for the Met Police told MyLondon : “At 8.06pm 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 8.21pm 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 8.40pm, the venue management took the decision to evacuate as a precaution.”
According to the journalist Fardad Farahzad, who writes for Iran International, police received a “credible threat of a potential bomb” at the venue.
He tweeted: “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.”
Crowds gathered outside the Hammersmith Apollo have started chanting “woman, life, liberty” following the evacuation.
The concert-goers are also shouting “death to Khamenei”, referring to Iran’s religious supreme leader.
It comes as protests rage across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The 22-year-old died after she arrested by Iran’s morality police for wearing an “improper” hijab.
Mahsa had travelled from Kurdistan to the country’s capital to visit relatives when she was abducted from the street and beaten at a police station where a number of other women were also held.
Source: The Mirror
