Two British nationals face charges related to national security after an alleged plot targeting RAF Fairford, a U.S.-operated military base in England, emerged. The Crown Prosecution Service reported Tuesday that 24-year-olds Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both from London, have been charged under the National Security Act.
Abdulkarim is accused of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, while Essghir faces charges for entering a prohibited area with intentions harmful to the U.K. Reports indicate their court appearance is scheduled for later today.
RAF Fairford, located in western England, has recently been utilized by American bombers in strikes against Iran. On September 27, Essghir was taken into custody near the base, where bomb-disposal experts and armed police overwhelmed the rural region. Residents were evacuated as authorities searched for explosives. Despite only finding gasoline in vehicles at the location, no actual explosives were discovered. Initially, Essghir was released on bail but was re-arrested last week. Abdulkarim’s arrest occurred in the past week.
Additionally, six other men have been detained and released on bail amid ongoing investigations. British officials have linked the plot to Tehran, leading to the withdrawal of U.S. bombers from RAF Fairford. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the plot was likely directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, although Iran denies involvement. Iran acknowledges viewing any foreign base used in attacks against its territory as a fair target.
Recently, MI5’s chief, Ken McCallum, warned of increasing aggressive actions from Iran and Russia against the U.K., marking the RAF Fairford incident as one of many. He revealed that over 50 arrests related to Iran-linked plots occurred in the past year. The head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the U.K., Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, emphasized collaborative efforts to prevent, identify, and address such threats.
Note: A prior version of this story incorrectly identified Abdulkarim’s nationality. He is British, not British-Iranian.
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