Two Men Charged With National Security Offenses in Alleged Plot at US Military Base in England
Charges stem from a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, a US-run base used in operations against Iran.
Two British nationals, Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24 and from London, have been charged with national security offenses in connection with a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run military air base in England. The Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges Tuesday under the National Security Act, with the men scheduled to appear in court.
Abdulkarim faces a charge of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, while Essghir is accused of entering a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to the United Kingdom. The incident led to a significant police and military response at the base in western England, which has been utilized by American bombers for strikes against Iran during the ongoing conflict.
Essghir was initially arrested outside the base on September 27, prompting the deployment of armed police and bomb-disposal experts. Although residents were evacuated and an extensive search was conducted, authorities reported finding only an accelerant, identified as gasoline, in vans at the scene, rather than explosives. Essghir was later re-arrested after an initial release on bail. Abdulkarim was arrested within the past week.
Six other men have been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation and subsequently released on bail. British authorities have suggested a link between the incident and Iran, which has denied involvement. The alleged plot prompted the U.S. to withdraw its bombers from RAF Fairford.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the suspected plot was "almost certainly" directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran has previously asserted that any base used to attack its territory is a legitimate target. The head of Britain’s MI5 spy agency, Ken McCallum, recently warned that both Iran and Russia are increasing their hostile activities against the UK, noting that the RAF Fairford incident was not an isolated event. McCallum indicated that more than 50 individuals have been arrested over the past year in connection with Iran-linked plots in Britain.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, confirmed that authorities are working to identify and counter a range of incidents believed to be state-directed by Iran.