Three suspects believed to be involved in the stabbing of an Iranian journalist in Wimbledon on Friday "left the UK" just hours after.

Police were called at 2.49pm on Friday, March 29 to a home in Wimbledon after a man in his 30s was attacked and sustained an injury to his leg.

He has since been discharged from hospital.

Police say it “remains unclear” why the victim was attacked, and officers are looking in to any motivation behind this.

The victim, Pouria Zeraati, is affiliated with a Persian-language media organisation in the UK, which has previously received threats.

The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation.

Officers have since established that the victim was approached by two men in a residential street and attacked.

The suspects then fled the scene in a car – a blue Mazda 3 - driven by a third male.

The car was abandoned in the New Malden area shortly after the attack.

Detectives have found the vehicle, and it is being examined by forensic experts.

Searches in the area continue.

The investigation team found that after leaving the car, the suspects travelled directly to Heathrow Airport and left the UK within a few hours of the attack.

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “As a result of a very comprehensive investigation, at pace, we have identified three suspects who we believe, left the UK within hours of the attack.

“Detectives trawled CCTV and made extensive enquiries resulting in the identification and recovery of a vehicle used by the suspects to leave the scene.

“We have established that after abandoning the vehicle, the suspects travelled to Heathrow Airport and have left the UK. We are now working with international partners to establish further details.

“I must reiterate that we are still at an early stage of our investigation, we do not know the reason why this victim was attacked and there could be a number of explanations for this.

"All lines of enquiry are being pursued and we are keeping an open mind on any potential motivation for the attack.

“I appreciate the concern this incident has caused, for local people and all those impacted. Additional patrols are continuing in the Wimbledon area and at other locations in London.

"If you have any concerns, please do speak with these officers.

“I am grateful to everyone who has assisted officers with their enquiries or provided witness accounts to police.”

Anyone with information about this incident who has yet to speak with officers is asked to call police on 0800 789 321.