LONDON: The extremist individual involved in the attack on the Pakistan High Commission in London has been identified as an Indian national.
Ankit Love, 41, who previously ran against Sadiq Khan in the London mayoral elections, has a history of controversial political activities.
The founder of the One Love Party and contested the 2016 election, receiving 4,941 votes against Sadiq Khan as a candidate from the One Love Party.
Ankit Love is the son of Indian politician and filmmaker Jay Mala. He has contested several elections in the UK, and his father is also a lawyer and politician in India.
According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Ankit Love will be presented before Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Ankit Love had broken the windows of the Pakistani High Commission at Lowndes Square.
The recent attack comes at a time when the Pakistani community was preparing to hold a protest in front of the Indian High Commission, showing great enthusiasm for the demonstration.
Pakistan Demands Security from UK authorities
Pakistan has urged the United Kingdom to ensure the safety and security of its High Commission staff following an attack on the High Commission building.
During a media briefing after the attack by Indian miscreants, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, expressed his worries about the potential threats to the staff’s residences and confirmed that the British police had been informed about the risks.
The High Commissioner described the attack on the Pakistan High Commission as a serious concern and mentioned that the issue had been raised with the British Foreign Office.
Pahalgam incident
The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after gunmen targeted tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on 22 April, killing 26 people and injuring 17.
India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting any credible evidence. Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly rejected the Indian government’s baseless accusations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Islamabad was open to any “neutral and transparent” investigation into the Pahalgam attack.
A day after the incident India suspended a water-sharing treaty, announced the closure of the main land border crossing with Pakistan, downgraded diplomatic ties, and withdrew visas for Pakistanis.
In response, Islamabad ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals – with the exception of Sikh pilgrims – and closing the main border crossing from its side.
Pakistan also warned any attempt by India to stop the supply of water from the Indus River would be an “act of war.”
Meanwhile, the Senate of Pakistan has unanimously passed a resolution emphatically stating that any misadventure by India will be met with a firm, swift and decisive response.
In a major development, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has established an operations room to monitor the situation and developments in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident.
