Four freed following Iranian protest

Four men arrested last night in connection with public order offences during a protest to mark a visit by Iranian foreign minister…

Four men arrested last night in connection with public order offences during a protest to mark a visit by Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki have been released.

During an address to the Institute of International and European Affairs in central Dublin, attended mostly by diplomats and academics, Mr Mottaki was heckled by two protesters who made their way inside the building.

The two men interrupted Mr Mottaki’s address with such slogans, including some about execution of Kurds in Iran.

The two were manhandled by Mr Mottaki’s own Iranian security guards before gardaí intervened and escorted them out.

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Television footage showed one of the demonstrators being pushed down the stairs of the building in North Great Georges Street.

Up to 30 people, some of whom carried flags of the Mujaheddin-e Khalq, an armed opposition group designated a terrorist body by Tehran, held a protest outside the IIEA. They chanted slogans including “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei”.

A Garda spokesman said the men in their early to mid-30s who were being detained on suspicion of public order offences, were this morning released without charge.