In a significant development, four individuals have been apprehended under suspicion of conducting espionage activities for Iran. This follows a comprehensive police investigation into the surveillance of Jewish community members residing in London.
The arrests, which took place at approximately 1 a.m., involved one Iranian national alongside three individuals holding dual British-Iranian citizenship. The Metropolitan Police executed the operation, bringing the suspects into custody from various locations including Harrow, Watford, and Barnet.
The men, whose ages are 22, 40, 52, and 55, are now under investigation for alleged violations of the National Security Act. This comes as part of a broader effort by Counter Terrorism Policing to address potential threats.
Central to the investigation are suspicions that the detainees engaged in surveillance activities targeting sites and people associated with the Jewish community across the London area.
Focused efforts are ongoing, with searches being conducted at the residences of a 40-year-old and a 55-year-old in Barnet, as the Metropolitan Police continue to unravel the extent of the alleged espionage activities.
The Metropolitan Police said a 40-year-old man and a 55-year-old man were arrested at addresses in Barnet, with searches ongoing.
A 52-year-old man was arrested at an address in Watford. Police are searching the property and another linked address in Wembley.
A 22-year-old man was arrested at an address in Harrow, the Met Police added.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran following a police probe into surveillance of members of the Jewish community in London (file photo)
Six other men, aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two aged 20, were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender.
All 10 men remain in custody.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: ‘Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.
‘We understand the public may be concerned, in particular the Jewish community, and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.’
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim North and East London, said police patrols have been ‘stepped up’ since the conflict in Iran began.
He said: ‘We all know Iran have cells in this country and has had cells here for a very long time – so this is no surprise.’
Speaking about the arrests, Rabbi Gluck added: ‘It certainly should reduce the concerns in the community.
‘We have been aware for a long time of the danger of an attack from these cells, which there are a number of in this country, would exponentially increase in the situation we are in at the moment.’
Searches are ongoing at the addresses where the suspects were arrested by counter-terrorism officers, as well as additional properties in Wembley and Barnet.
Six other men were also arrested in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender and have been taken into custody, the force said.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said: ‘Security is strong across the Jewish community.
‘CST thanks Counter Terror Policing London and will not be commenting further at this time.’
The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the Government’s ‘failure to keep its promise’ to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following the arrests.
A spokesperson for the charity said: ‘The UK may not be acting against Iran but Iran is acting against us.
‘It is incredible that the Iranian threat, long recognised by British Jews and those paying attention, like the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, is still not being taken seriously by the Government.
‘The Government’s failure to keep its promise to proscribe the IRGC – the main instrument that the Islamic Republic uses to foment antisemitic violence worldwide – has sent the message that support for the brutal Iranian regime and its Jew-hating and West-hating ideology is perfectly acceptable in Britain.’
The statement added: ‘We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which underscores the reality in which the Jewish community lives.
‘But the security services have to be lucky every time: the plotters only need to get lucky once.
‘The Government must give the police the tools they need to tackle this peril and broadcast not weakness but the message that Britain stands against this menace.’
The European Union listed the IRGC as a terror group in January, amid a deadly crackdown on protesters in the country.
This week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the UK Government to introduce emergency legislation to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, arguing it is ‘more desperate and dangerous than ever’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday in the Commons that the UK is ‘working 24/7 on dealing with any threats to this country’.
He added: ‘We don’t comment on proscription, but we have made the case that there needs to be legislation to deal with state-backed terrorist groups, and we’re looking into that.’
Then-home secretary Yvette Cooper announced in May 2025 that powers would be created to proscribe state-backed groups if they are deemed to pose a threat to Britain after recommendations by terror watchdog Jonathan Hall KC.
