Demonstrators and mourners in quake service clash

Opponents of the Iranian government clashed with mourners at a service for victims of the Bam earthquake.

Trouble flared last night after the Worker-Communist Party of Iran formed a picket outside the ceremony at the Islamic Centre of England in North London.

The demonstrators claimed they were attacked by groups wielding brooms and pieces of wood.

But the Iranian Embassy in London, which helped organise the service, said mourners had been verbally and physically assaulted by the group of around 25 protesters.

Press attaché Mohammed Eskandari said: “It was very sad. People had come to pay their respects, and then this unauthorised demonstration came and tried to ruin it.”

Protest organiser Saeed Arman, 43, said the Iranian government was responsible for the high death toll of 50,000 in last week’s earthquake for failing to prepare for disaster, despite warning that a quake was likely to occur.

“We came to urge people to give donations to other aid agencies, not to put money into the Islamic regime running the country. The response of the Iranian authorities was to attack us.”

Scotland Yard said there were no arrests in the scuffle.

Meanwhile a team of British firefighters has told of their desperate search for survivors amid the carnage of the earthquake in Iran.

The six firefighters from Essex went to the ancient town of Bam after it was devastated by the tremors on Boxing Day.

Team co-ordinator Rudy Jackson, based in Southend, said it was clear almost immediately that there was little chance of finding anyone alive.

“The buildings were made of clay and dirt, and had just crumbled. We knew it was going to be difficult.

“Most of them didn’t have basements either, which is where people usually manage to survive.

“We were just carrying out body after body,” he added.

Mr Jackson said the Iranian authorities had decided the team should leave after two days.

“We were the guests of the Iranian government and these decisions were taken out of our hands.”

It was not surprising that a handful of survivors had been found since the team left, according to Mr Jackson.

However, it had become clear that the operation was moving from search and rescue to recovery of the dead.

“That’s not what we’re trained for,” he added.