PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on violence at Swedish Embassy in Baghdad [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

The Foreign Office has issued a statement on violence at the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The UK strongly condemns the attacks on the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Violence against diplomatic missions is unacceptable in any circumstances.

Governments have a responsibility to protect diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention and it is unacceptable that the Iraqi Security Forces did not act to prevent last night’s breach of an Embassy.

We welcome the Iraqi Government’s intention to prosecute those responsible.