PC Lock, the brave policeman who was held hostage during the Iranian embassy siege in London in 1980, has passed away at the age of 85, his daughter has confirmed. Along with 24 other hostages, PC Lock was eventually freed after a tense six-day stand-off with the SAS.
It was revealed later that PC Lock had confronted the leader of the gunmen during the siege, ultimately saving the life of an SAS soldier. His heroic actions led to him being awarded the George Medal, a prestigious recognition of outstanding bravery.
On April 30, 1980, six gunmen associated with a dissident Iranian group took control of the Iranian embassy in Kensington, where they held 26 people captive. Among the hostages were Iranians, as well as individuals such as BBC sound man Sim Harris and BBC News organiser Chris Cramer, who were there to obtain visas.
During the negotiations with the gunmen, they demanded the release of political prisoners in Iran and an aircraft to transport them and the hostages out of the UK. The situation escalated when the gunmen killed Iranian press attaché Abbas Lavasani, prompting the government to authorize the SAS to storm the embassy. Upon the raid, PC Lock’s courageous actions had a significant impact, as he took on the leader of the gunmen, known as Salim, to protect the lives of others
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