Firebombers wore balaclavas for attack on anti-Iranian regime media company

A gang of firebombers donned balaclavas before trying to burn down an anti-Iranian regime media company, a court heard.

Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were caught in a 75mph police chase after the attack at the west London offices of Volant Media, parent company of news channel Iran International.

All three defendants appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from custody today (May 15) as the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb fixed a three-week trial date for 25 January 2027.

Prosecutor Max Hardy said security guards at Volant Media which produces radio broadcasts against the Iranian regime – noticed two young men outside the offices who were asking to ‘see a friend’ just after 8pm on April 15.

‘Security refused because the request seemed suspicious,’ said Mr Hardy.

The suspects then went to the rear of the building, joined by a third person, where they ‘produced what was determined to be a molotov cocktail’, the court heard.

The suspects were seen on CCTV wearing dark clothing: one with a grey hood; another with a blue tracksuit; and one all in black, the court was told.

‘All three males were wearing balaclavas,’ added Mr Hardy.

‘The bottle was thrown over a fence into the Volante Media carpark and was visible in footage, in flames, in the air,’ said Mr Hardy.

Mr Hardy said ‘damage was not caused’ to the building and ‘nobody was hurt’.

When the fire brigade arrived the fire had already gone out, he added.

The suspects left in the Peugeot and were later spotted by a police ANPR camera, but failed to stop for a marked police car, the court heard.

After skipping a red light, speeding at 75mph on a 30mph road, the car ‘narrowly missed other road users’ and crashed.

Dunn was arrested in the front passenger side, McGuinness was arrested in a nearby bush, and the youth was arrested at the scene, the court heard.

Jerry cans and wicking material were found in the car, the court heard.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month prosecutor Rebecca Waller said: ‘It is perceived that these three were instucted to do this action.’

McGuinness and Dunn, of Watford, and the boy, of north London, are accused of arson with intent to endanger life; while McGuinness, said to be the driver of the hired Peugeot, also faces a charge of dangerous driving.

The youngest defendant remains on remand under the care of a local authority with conditions, while the other two accused have been remanded into custody.