Two men have been charged in connection with an alleged “terror plot” at RAF Fairford and are due to appear in court later today.
Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, both from Westminster, London, face charges under the National Security Act 2023.
Police were called to the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of September 27 after reports of three suspicious vehicles in the vicinity.
The incident prompted the evacuation of dozens of local residents and triggered a major counterterrorism investigation.
Seven people were arrested during the operation, but Abdulkarim and Essghir are the only individuals to have been charged. The remaining five are still on police bail.
Abdulkarim is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, understood by police to be Iran, “in carrying out UK-related activities” between August 31 and September 28.
Essghir, who was detained at the scene, has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
Both men are British nationals and are expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.
Police arrived at the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of September 27 after three suspicious vehicles were reported nearby
Dozens of residents were evacuated as counterterrorism officers began a major investigation
Five men were arrested near the base early on September 27, followed by the detention of two others
Counterterrorism police said the foreign intelligence service Abdulkarim is suspected of assisting is Iran.
A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was re-arrested last week has been released without charge but remains on police bail. He was initially detained on October 1.
Detectives have also interviewed another man under caution.
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RAF Fairford has served as a base for US bomber jets involved in strikes against Iran since conflict broke out in the Middle East at the beginning of this year.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said: “Earlier this morning, Nouman Essghir, 24, a British national from the borough of Westminster, London, was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 over suspected activity on Saturday 22 August.
“He was first arrested at the scene in Gloucestershire on Sunday 27 September and re-arrested on 20 October.
“Essghir will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning.
“A second man, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was re-arrested on the same date, has been released without charge. However, he remains on police bail following his initial arrest on Thursday 1 October.
“After these individuals were re-arrested, detectives also interviewed another man under caution.”
‘As a result, Mohammed Abdulkarim, a 24-year-old British national, from the borough of Westminster, London, has been charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which makes it an offence to assist a foreign intelligence service.
‘In this case, we believe that country to be Iran. Abdulkarim will appear at Westminster Magistrates today.
‘The five other men arrested in connection with this investigation, remain on police bail.’
He added: ‘We have seen a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state, and as the Director General of Mi5 said just the other week, we are working together to intervene, identify and respond to that threat.
‘The public can help us with this, and as always, I would urge them to report anything that they’re worried about – those reports can and do make a difference.’
Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute two individuals with National Security Act offences following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into a high-profile incident involving RAF Fairford.
‘We will continue to work closely with our partners as this complex investigation continues.’
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