Two Men Plead Not Guilty to Iran-Backed Surveillance in London
The defendants are accused of conducting reconnaissance on Jewish and Israeli sites on behalf of Iran's intelligence service.
Two men have denied carrying out surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites across London on behalf of Iran's intelligence service. Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22, face charges under the National Security Act 2023, which prohibits engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.
Prosecutors allege the pair conducted hostile reconnaissance between July 9 and August 15 of last year. The alleged targets included the Israeli embassy and consulate, a college, Britain's oldest synagogue, and a woman believed to be of interest to Iran.
Both defendants entered not guilty pleas at the Old Bailey. Farasati appeared in person, while Shahsavani attended via video link. Police confiscated electronic devices from Farasati, a barber, when he was stopped on August 14, 2023.
Prosecutors claim Shahsavani, a dual British-Iranian national who has lived in the UK since 2009, directed Farasati to monitor and gather intelligence on London's Jewish and Israeli communities under instructions from Iranian intelligence. Shahsavani is a father of two from North Finchley. Farasati, an Iranian national who arrived in the UK in 2021, resides in Colindale.
Shahsavani works as a car salesman and delivery driver. Both men, who were detained in March, remain in custody. A further pre-trial hearing is scheduled for February 12, with a trial expected to begin on April 26.