Operation Nimrod

The British Army Special Air Service (SAS) regiment that had been formed during WW2 is an elite secretive unit whose existence was barely known before the events of Operation Nimrod where their excellence at Close Quarter Battle (CQB) for hostage rescue earned them global esteem.

On 30th April 1980 six gunmen rushed into the Iranian Embassy at Princes Gate in London's borough of South Kensington, capturing twenty six people demanding the release of Arab prisoners from prisons in the Khuzestan region of Iran.

Police cordoned off the area and began negotiations, meanwhile B squadron of 22 SAS was instructed to make preparations in order to free the hostages should the negotiations fail.

After six days on 5th May gunshots were heard from within the embassy as the Iranian chief press officer Abbas Lavasani was executed and his body was thrown into the street where press from around the world had gathered.

Operational control was officially handed to the SAS to conduct an assault of the embassy codenamed Operation Nimrod which was put into effect at 19:23 that evening.

The assault was completed in seventeen minutes during which the gunmen had killed one more hostage whilst wounding two others. Four gunmen were killed outright as they attempted to repel the assault and two tried to hide amongst the hostages as they were being evacuated.

One of these that was holding a hand grenade was recognised and killed as he was making his way down the stairs and the final gunman was identified and arrested as soon as he exited the building.

The only SAS casualty was a Staff Sergeant who suffered burns to his legs when he was engulfed in flames as a consequence of the flash bang grenades setting the building on fire as he abseiled down to one of the balconies, who even though injured continued the assault and later made a full recovery.

This incident made the SAS famous due to events being captured live in front of the worlds media and exemplified their regimental motto "Who Dares Wins" on their winged dagger insignia seen here on the cap of the units founder David Stirling.

The events of Operation Nimrod have inspired many film and TV adaptations most recently the film 6 Days which was inspired by the book Go! Go! Go! by former team leader Rusty "No Gloves" Firmin pictured during the assault at the embassy.

Take care

Roo