UK charges two men over alleged Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford

British prosecutors have charged two men with national security offences following an incident in September at RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire airbase used by the U.S. Air Force. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, a British-Iranian dual national, was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities. Nouman Essghir, 24, a British citizen, was charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. Both men were arrested in connection with a counter-terrorism operation on September 27, when police and army bomb-disposal experts evacuated nearby residents and searched the area after five men were initially detained near the base.

The incident occurred at a facility that had hosted U.S. B-1 bombers used to conduct strikes on Iran. Following the September incident, the U.S. Air Force withdrew all bombers deployed to RAF Fairford and returned them to home stations in the United States. Police found gasoline in three vans parked near a base entrance but no explosives during their search.

UK authorities stated they believe the activity was "highly likely" coordinated in Iran, a claim Iran's ambassador to the UK has denied. Iran characterised the allegation as a "sordid plot to advance the anti-Iran campaign" and said it "categorically rejects" the unfounded speculation. In July, Britain banned support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a linked militant group. The UK Counter Terrorism Policing noted that last year Britain recorded 20 credible Iranian-backed threats to kill or kidnap individuals in the country.

Six additional men remain under investigation and have been released on bail. Four were arrested on September 27; two others, including a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national, were detained subsequently. All suspects are London residents in their 20s. Both charged men are due to appear in court.