International terrorism surged during the 1970s, with each attack prompting a familiar pattern of negotiations and compromises, which only served to give more legitimacy to the terrorists’ actions. The ramifications of a recent, failed mission by US special forces to free 52 American captives in Iran loomed large as Margaret Thatcher took office in the UK.
On 30 April 1980, a group of six Iranians, led by Salim, seized control of the Iranian Embassy at 16 Princes Gate, Kensington, London, taking at least 25 hostages in the process. This incident garnered the attention of significant figures including Lance Corporal Rusty Firmin from the SAS (Special Air Service), Kate Adie, a BBC reporter, her cameraman Bill, and Chief Inspector Max Vernon of the Metropolitan Police, who assumed the role of chief negotiator positioned seven doors from the embassy. The area was quickly cordoned off as tension escalated.
The terrorists, identifying as the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan, issued a chilling ultimatum over the phone: the release of 91 Arab prisoners in Iran, or a hostage would die by noon the next day if their demands were ignored. The Iranian government steadfastly refused to comply, leaving the UK Government to weigh the options between negotiation and the use of force.
The Home Secretary, William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, was informed by Thatcher that the full extent of British law was to be applied in this crisis. On the first night, Max found himself in a challenging position, conversing with Salim while trying to discourage violence. He explained the difficult diplomatic landscape, stressing that Britain had minimal influence over Iran. As the terrorist threat escalated, Max managed to avert a premature assault by the SAS forces, which were prepared to intervene should a hostage be harmed.
During one of his negotiations, Salim released a hostage due to illness but remained firm on his threat to start executing the others unless their demands were met. After delivering food to the terrorists, Max learned that Salim was demanding two buses to Heathrow Airport, buying some time to meet this demand. Meanwhile, the SAS leveraged the extra 48 hours to gather intelligence on the embassy layout, discovering that the terrorists were heavily armed with Soviet-era grenades.
Planning was tense as the SAS contemplated a direct approach, with strategies discussed to infiltrate the embassy through the skylight during the night. However, these plans were put aside as the British government deemed them too risky.
As the situation drew on, Salim continued to make threats, resulting in increasing pressure on the authorities. When another hostage was fatally shot after demands were unmet, the SAS prepared to act decisively. Rusty and his team coordinated an intricate maneuver to keep Salim engaged on the line while they executed their plan.
On Day 6, the tension reached a boiling point as Faisal, Salim's right-hand man, killed a hostage after the bus demand was again unmet. Rusty took this opportunity, and with proper distraction from Max, the SAS stormed the embassy. They successfully freed the hostages and neutralized the terrorists, including Salim, during a fierce gunfight.
Thatcher’s decision to deploy the SAS during this crisis is viewed as a pivotal moment in counter-terrorism, setting a precedent for how governments respond to similar situations in the future.
