The whole story was prompted by a non-ironic tweet that their internet was cut off, so it fits.

As the embassy is in the middle of London why can't anyone (a journalist maybe) pop by and see what is going on? Or maybe just call by phone?

The actual article states that the BBC tried to contact the embassy by phone, but the staff there are not authorised to comment. They have thus far been unable to raise the ambassador by email. People have been down there by foot, and there is apparently nothing to see.

Catch 22. People showed up at the embassy clerk today, but they told them you need a prior appointment with Julian. Which is only possible via internet. So nada.

That tweet could have been in response to a dead-mans switch being activated.

If only his internet access was cut, he may still have been able to communicate via phone or other means to alert someone to post that tweet.

RFC1149 may come in handy one of these days.