Bombed live on air

NEWS ANCHOR FORCED TO FLEE ATTACK ON IRANIAN TV STUDIO

- BY ANDY LINES and ASHLEY COWBURN

A STUNNED news anchor had to flee live on air as Israel bombed Iran's state-run TV station.

Debris fell on the presenter while several of her colleagues were also killed last night.

Foad Izadi, professor of international relations at the University of Tehran, feared there would be “a lot of casualties” following the TV station attack.

Footage showed the building and studios engulfed in flames and black smoke.

Mr Izadi said: “It’s a huge building. They were getting ready for the evening programmes.”

Israel said it had targeted a “communication centre being used for military purposes by Iranian Armed Forces”.

The Israel Defence Forces said it had provided an effective warning to civilians. Visiting an air base, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel now “controlled the skies of Tehran”.

He added: “We are on the way to achieving victory.”