Two men charged in UK airbase national-security inquiry
Two British men face separate national-security charges following the investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, an airbase used by US forces. One is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service and the other of approaching a prohibited place for a prejudicial purpose. British police identify Iran in their allegation about the intelligence service.
Geopolitics··Evening
Two defendants face separate charges
Two British men from Westminster in London have been charged under the UK’s National Security Act following the investigation into activity near Fairford, a British military airbase used by US forces. Both are 24. Counter Terrorism Policing, the British police network leading the inquiry, said Nouman Essghir was charged under Section 4 over suspected activity on 22 August. Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim was charged under Section 3, which concerns assisting a foreign intelligence service.[1], [2]
Police attribute intelligence allegation to Iran
Police said they believed the intelligence service in Abdulkarim’s case was Iranian. Essghir’s charge concerns entering, inspecting or approaching a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to UK safety or interests. Both men were due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 27 October. The police account presents the alleged foreign-intelligence connection as investigators’ assessment; the charges remain allegations to be addressed in court.[1]
Inquiry follows September incident
The inquiry began after reports of suspicious vehicles near the Gloucestershire base on 27 September. Armed officers stopped and searched three vans, and five men were arrested at the scene. Essghir was among those arrested and was arrested again on 20 October. Police said they reviewed extensive security-camera footage and material from dozens of seized digital devices. Other suspects remain on police bail as inquiries continue.[1]
