Two British men charged in alleged Iran-linked plot against RAF Fairford
British authorities have charged two London residents with national security offences linked to a suspected Iran-backed terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, a former U.S. bomber base.
London – The U.K. Crown Prosecution Service said on Tuesday that 24-year-old Mohmed Abdulkarim and 24-year-old Nouman Essghir have been charged under the 2023 National Security Act for offences tied to a suspected plot against RAF Fairford. Abdulkarim faces charges of "assisting a foreign intelligence service" and of conduct likely to materially aid such a service in U.K.-related activities. Essghir is accused of approaching a prohibited place with knowledge that his actions were prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom.
Both men were arrested last week on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service in a scheme targeting the air base, which had been used by the U.S. military for strikes on Iran. Their arrests followed an earlier operation on Sept. 27 that saw five men detained near the base after gasoline was found in three vans parked close to an entrance; no explosives were discovered. All five were later released on bail and remain under investigation.
"We believe Iran played a part in the incident at the base," said Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Police continue to monitor six other individuals who remain on bail in connection with the case, including a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national arrested on Oct. 1. The incident prompted the U.S. Air Force to relocate its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford.
The Iranian Embassy in London rejected claims linking Tehran to the plot, describing such allegations as unfounded and malicious.