Iranian demonstrators burn the Union flag and hold up posters proclaiming ‘Down With England’

Hundreds of Iranian protesters have gathered in front of the British Embassy in Tehran to burn Union flags during an anti-Britain demonstration.

The hardliners chanted ‘Death to Britain’ and held aloft placards reading ‘Down with England’, prompted by the brief arrest of Britain’s ambassador to Iran yesterday.

They rejoiced as they set alight Israeli and British flags as the crisis continues to escalate in the region following the death of General Qassem Soleimani.

The protesters held aloft placards bearing anti-Britain slogans such as this one reading ‘Down with England’

Hundreds of hardliners gathered a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine passenger jet disaster

Diplomat Rob Macaire was present during demonstrations against Ayatollah Khamenei in front of Tehran’s Amir Kabir University yesterday and was arrested after allegedly ‘organising, provoking and directing radical actions’.

He claims he was only attending a vigil for the victims of the Boeing crash but he was detained despite it being illegal to arrest diplomats.

The move has sparked a diplomatic row between London and Tehran after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab denounced Mr Macaire’s detention as a ‘flagrant violation’ of international law.

Some Iranians have taken to the streets to share their disgust at Britain and its ambassador, calling for him to be expelled from the country today.

While others have turned on the regime after it admitted mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian airliner, killing 176 people.

They rejoiced as they set alight Israeli and British flags as the crisis continues to escalate in the region following the death of General Qassem Soleimani

Iranians have taken to the streets to share their disgust at Britain and its ambassador, calling for him to be expelled from the country

Iranian security forces stand guard in riot gear in front of the British embassy in Tehran

Macaire’s arrest sparked a diplomatic row between London and Tehran after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab denounced the detention as a ‘flagrant violation’ of international law

‘They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,’ a group of protesters outside a university in Tehran chanted, according to video clips posted on Twitter. 

Tehran residents told Reuters police were out in force in the capital on Sunday, as public anger boiled up following days of denials by the military that it was to blame, issued even as Canada and the United States said a missile had brought the plane down. 

Riot police fired teargas at thousands of protesters in the capital on Saturday, where many had chanted ‘Death to the dictator’, directing their anger at the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Rob Macaire was present during demonstrations against Ayatollah Khamenei in front of Tehran’s Amir Kabir University yesterday and was arrested after allegedly ‘organising, provoking and directing radical actions’

Iranian demonstrators prepare to burn a Union Jack and Israeli flag in front of the British embassy

Protesters hold placards bearing the images of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

‘Apologise and resign,’ Iran’s moderate Etemad daily wrote in a banner headline on Sunday, saying the ‘people’s demand’ was for those responsible for mishandling the plane crisis to quit.

The latest upsurge in anger adds to challenges facing the authorities, which launched a bloody crackdown in November to quell protests. The leadership is also struggling to keep the crippled economy afloat under stringent U.S. sanctions.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted: ‘To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching.’