'Iran is great' PR stunt backfires after police mistake terror threat at Science Museum
A PR stunt went horribly wrong and caused a full-scale terror alert after a van emblazoned with the statement "Iran is great" drew up outside the Science Museum.
The van parked outside the Science Musuem sparked off a full-scale terror alert
The vehicle, which was promoting Iran's culture and society, was parked on Exhibition Road in West London when the dramatic decision to call a full-scale emergency response was taken.
The police, firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as streets were cleared and the museum was evacuated.
Officers found the Ivan family, who have taken the vehicle from Iran and across Europe to Britain to "change world opinion" and "demystify the idea that Iran is a so-called terrorist country”.
Fiyaz Mughal, director of the anti-Muslim hate crime reporting service Tell MAMA, called the police response “over the top”.
He added: “Someone has obviously thought that Iran equates to terrorism and this in itself is telling, when all the van did was to park off Exhibition Road.”
We have evacuated the Museum as a precaution and will have an update to share soon.
— Science Museum (@sciencemuseum) August 3, 2015
Alan Magor, a Birmingham-based actor who was visiting the museum with his family, refused to go back in once it reopened, adding: “My daughter’s terrified!”
Christian Ivan, 41, and his wife, Audrey, 33, were inspired to start the 'Iran is great' campaign after they took a detour into Iran on their way to India in 2013 and were captivated by the culture.
Mr Ivan, who is from Romania and grew up in Germany, had decided to stay and learn Farsi after their papers were stolen in the city of Karaj.
The couple were taken aback by the level of compassion and generosity from local people.
A lorry with the words Iran Is Great parks on Exhibition Road. Police react by blocking off the street. pic.twitter.com/eaZJ2bIqV7
— Brendan Cormier (@BrendanCormier) August 3, 2015
Someone has obviously thought that Iran equates to terrorism
Mr Ivan said: "We thought: 'Wow.' Iran is greater than we thought. So we thought we could change world opinion using these beautiful pictures on the car".
They decided to hit the road in a camper van with their children Emilia, five, and Lucas, eight, as well as two small rabbits.
The campaign also has a website which aims "to change the way Iran is perceived abroad".
The Ivan children catch up on school work in the motorhome in between rallies and talks by their parents.
@BBCBreaking Police investigates a suspect car on Exhibition Road, #London pic.twitter.com/x8roFE8UYi
— Edina Bosnia Hodzic (@EdinaBosnia) August 3, 2015
People can donate to the campaign via the website and receive an 'Iran is great' sticker.
Police said they were called to reports of a "suspicious vehicle" in Kensington and that emergency vehicles were “stood down as it was deemed non-suspicious”.
A spokesman for the Science Museum said evacuation was taken as a precautionary measure but he was not aware who contacted the police.