Two Charged in RAF Fairford Iran-Linked Investigation

Two men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, have been charged under the UK’s National Security Act in connection with an incident at RAF Fairford, a US-run military base in Gloucestershire. Prosecutors say Abdulkarim is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both were previously arrested, released on bail while inquiries continued, and re-arrested on October 20. The incident prompted the evacuation of residents near the base and a response involving armed police and army bomb-disposal experts. Police said they found gasoline, described as an accelerant, in three vans, but no explosives. Five men arrested in connection with the incident are British citizens from London. British authorities have linked the suspected plot to Iran, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. US President Donald Trump said the men had been under investigation for a long time. Residents, however, said they alerted authorities after noticing suspicious vehicles near the base. Iran denies involvement, though it has said that bases used to attack its territory could be considered legitimate targets. RAF Fairford has been used for strikes on Iran, and the incident led the United States to withdraw its bombers from the base. The article places the investigation within a broader security context, reporting that MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned of expanding Iranian and Russian activity against the UK. McCallum said more than 50 people had been arrested over Iran-linked plots in the past year.

Two men have been charged with national security offences in connection with a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run military airbase in western England. The Crown Prosecution Service identified them as Mohmed Abdulkarim, a 24-year-old British-Iranian dual national, and Nouman Essghir, a 24-year-old British citizen, both from London. Abdulkarim is accused of assisting Iran’s intelligence service; Essghir is accused of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the U.K. Both were expected to appear in court on Tuesday. The investigation began after Essghir was arrested outside the base on September 27. Police and army bomb-disposal teams searched the area, and scores of residents were evacuated. Authorities later said they found gasoline, described as an accelerant, in vans but no explosives. Essghir was initially released on bail and then re-arrested; Abdulkarim was arrested the following week. Six other men have been arrested and released on bail while inquiries continue. British officials have connected the incident to Iran, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the apparent plot was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran denies involvement, though it has said bases used to attack its territory could be legitimate targets. The incident prompted the United States to withdraw several B-1 bombers from Fairford. U.K. security officials say Iran-linked threats have expanded, with MI5’s director reporting more than 50 arrests over such plots in the past year. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also publicly voiced suspicions of Iranian involvement. The charges are allegations; the article does not report a court finding of guilt.

Two men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, have been charged under Britain’s National Security Act in connection with a suspected Iran-linked plot targeting RAF Fairford, an English air base used by the U.S. military. The Crown Prosecution Service said Abdulkarim faces charges relating to assisting a foreign intelligence service and conduct that could materially assist its U.K.-related activities. Essghir is accused of approaching or being near a prohibited place in circumstances prejudicial to U.K. safety or interests. Both men are British nationals and London residents, aged 24. The charges follow arrests made during an investigation into activity near RAF Fairford. Five men were initially detained on September 27, and police found gasoline in three vans parked near an entrance to the base, but no explosives. Those five were released on bail while remaining under investigation. A further 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was arrested and also released on bail. Police said six men in total remained on bail in connection with the incident. The investigation has raised concern because RAF Fairford was used by U.S. forces to launch strikes on Iran. The U.S. Air Force removed its B-1 bombers from the base after the incident. Residents nearby were evacuated while armed police and bomb-disposal experts searched the area. U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government believed Iran had played a part, while Iran’s embassy in London rejected what it called unfounded and malicious attempts to link the country to the incident. Iranian officials have previously said that bases used to attack Iran could be considered legitimate targets.

Two men have been charged under the U.K.’s National Security Act following an incident at RAF Fairford, a military air base in western England used by U.S. forces during strikes on Iran. Prosecutors allege that Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, engaged between Aug. 31 and Sept. 28 in conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out U.K.-related activities. Authorities have not identified the foreign country. Nouman Essghir, also 24, faces a separate charge of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the U.K. Both men are due to appear in a London court on Tuesday. The charges follow a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation. Five people were arrested near RAF Fairford on Sept. 28 on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses. The base had served as the U.S. Air Force’s command outpost for operations from Europe and for American strikes on Iranian missile sites. A Crown Prosecution Service chief prosecutor said the charges followed a high-profile incident and that the complex investigation would continue with partner agencies. After the arrests, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States had moved its long-range bombers out of the U.K. in response to a threat linked to Iran. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told lawmakers the incident was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had previously warned that it regarded military bases involved in launching airstrikes on Iran as legitimate targets. Tehran denied involvement in the RAF Fairford incident.

British prosecutors have charged two men in connection with a September incident near RAF Fairford, an airbase used by US forces to launch strikes on Iran. The charges were announced Tuesday under the UK’s National Security Act. Mohmed A., 24, of London, is accused of engaging in conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service. Counterterrorism policing chief Laurence Taylor said investigators believe the country involved was Iran. Nouman E., also 24 and from London, is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK on August 22. Both men were expected in court later Tuesday. Nouman E. was first arrested near the Gloucestershire base on September 27 and rearrested on October 20. A separate 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national, arrested on October 20 over a suspected intelligence offense, was released without charge on that matter. He remains on bail following an October 1 arrest on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Five other men are also on police bail. The investigation began on September 27, when armed police responded to reports of three suspicious vehicles near the base and arrested five men. Residents were evacuated while police and military bomb-disposal experts searched for explosives. Authorities have described Iranian state involvement as “highly likely.” Taylor said police believe a range of recent incidents were directed by the Iranian state, and that they are working with MI5 to counter the threat. He also urged the public to report concerns. Iran has denied involvement, though it has previously said it considers bases used to attack its territory legitimate targets. US bombers were withdrawn from Fairford on security grounds shortly after the arrests.

Two men have been charged under the United Kingdom’s National Security Act following a September incident near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base used by U.S. heavy bombers. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, of London, is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Nouman Essghir, also 24, is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. The Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges, and the men were expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. British counterterrorism police believe the foreign country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran, Reuters reported. The charges follow the arrest of five men outside the base in the early hours of September 27. RAF Fairford had been used by U.S. aircraft to launch strikes against Iranian military targets. Around a dozen B-1 bombers were subsequently withdrawn from the base and returned to U.S. home stations for security reasons, according to earlier Fox News reporting. Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, described the investigation as complex and said it was continuing with partner agencies. RAF Fairford is an important European operating location for U.S. heavy bombers and has supported American military missions. The article also notes that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had called the base a “legitimate target” after U.S. bombers used it for missions against Iranian military targets. The CPS stressed that the charges are not findings of guilt and that both defendants are entitled to a fair trial. The report identifies no verdict or final determination in the case.

Two British men, both 24 and from London, have been charged under the UK’s National Security Act in connection with a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, a US-run military air base in western England. The Crown Prosecution Service said Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim is charged with assisting Iran’s intelligence service, while Nouman Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. They were scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Essghir was arrested outside the base on September 27 and later released on bail before being arrested again last week; Abdulkarim was arrested in the past week. The September incident prompted a major security response. Armed police and army bomb-disposal experts searched the area, and scores of residents were evacuated from their homes. Police said they found gasoline, an accelerant, in vans at the scene, but no explosives. Six other men have also been arrested and released on bail while the investigation continues. RAF Fairford has been used by US bombers to strike Iran during the year’s war. British authorities have linked Tehran to the incident, which led the United States to withdraw its bombers from the base. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the apparent plot was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran denies involvement, though it has said bases used to attack its territory may be considered legitimate targets. The article places the case within wider concerns about foreign-directed activity in Britain. MI5 chief Ken McCallum recently warned that Iran and Russia were expanding attacks against the UK, and said more than 50 people had been arrested over Iran-linked plots in the past year. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said authorities were working to identify and respond to incidents believed to be directed by the Iranian state.