Two men charged over suspected Iran plot near British airbase

President Donald Trump criticized the release of suspects after the September incident, which prompted the U.S. to withdraw bombers from the base.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — Two British men were charged Tuesday in connection with a suspected Iranian intelligence operation near a Royal Air Force base used by the U.S. military.The charges follow an incident that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to criticize the release of suspects and the United States to withdraw bombers from the base.Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, faces a charge of assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Nouman Essghir, also 24, faces a charge of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the U.K.Both men are British nationals from Westminster, London, and were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Tuesday.Counter Terrorism Policing, the British police unit investigating terrorism and national security threats, said investigators believe the foreign intelligence service involved was Iran.The charges follow an investigation into three suspicious vans found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwest England, on Sept. 27.The incident prompted a major security response, including the evacuation of dozens of residents and the establishment of a large police cordon.Trump said at the time he was surprised that suspects had been released after the incident, adding, “We would not have released them.” He later said U.S. bombers had been removed from the base because of “some threats,” without providing further details.The U.S. Air Force has used RAF Fairford as a forward operating location for decades.In recent months, American B-1 and B-52 bombers had flown from the base to the Middle East after the U.K. approved a U.S. request to use British bases for strikes against Iran.The charges do not establish that Iran directed the activity near the base.Iran has denied involvement in the incident. The country has also previously said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.In March, an Iranian drone struck the British airbase RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, causing limited damage, while two others were shot down before reaching the base.Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Britain’s national counterterrorism police, said officers had seen a range of incidents in recent months they believe were directed by the Iranian state.Taylor said the investigation had advanced despite public questions about the release of suspects following the September incident.He said counterterrorism policing decisions could sometimes appear illogical but had a rationale, adding that the approach in this case had helped officers secure the charges.“The public can help us with this, and as always I would urge them to report anything that they’re worried about,” Taylor said.Charges follow weeks of investigationEssghir was among five men arrested near RAF Fairford on Sept. 27 on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and later on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.All five were released on bail the following day.Essghir was arrested again Oct. 20.Police said his charge under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023 concerns suspected activity on Aug. 22, several weeks before the incident at the airbase.Abdulkarim was interviewed under caution after detectives made further arrests and inquiries. He was later charged under Section 3 of the same law, which criminalizes assisting a foreign intelligence service.The Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether criminal cases in England and Wales should proceed to court, said it had authorized prosecutions against the two men following the counterterrorism investigation.Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the service’s special crime and counterterrorism division, described the case as a complex investigation that would continue with partner agencies.A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national who was arrested again on Oct. 20 on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service has been released without charge. He remains on police bail following his initial arrest on Oct. 1 on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.Five other men arrested during the investigation also remain on bail.Police said eight men had been arrested in total.The National Security Act, passed in 2023, introduced offenses targeting threats to British national security, including activity carried out on behalf of foreign intelligence services.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads