Jurist UK prosecutors charge two men with national security offenses over incident at US-run air base

[Dadparvar]

The UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced charges on Tuesday against two British men under the National Security Act 2023 (NSA) over a suspected Iranian-backed plot targeting Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, a US-operated military air base in Gloucestershire, England. Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division noted that criminal proceedings against both men are active and cautioned against any reporting or commentary that could prejudice their right to a fair trial.

Both defendants, 24-year-old London residents Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Prosecutors charged Abdulkarim under section 3(2) of the act with engaging in conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service between August 31 and September 28. Essghir was charged under section 4(1) of the act with approaching or inspecting a prohibited place on August 22 for a purpose prejudicial to UK safety or interests.

Each offense carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. In court on Tuesday, prosecutors alleged that an Iran-linked handler known as “Ali” paid Abdulkarim roughly £70,000 to procure equipment and enlist five men—including Essghir—to drive three vans carrying drums of gasoline to RAF Fairford on September 27. Police arrested the five men at the scene after one of them was told a van contained a bomb and called emergency services; while officers found no explosives, the security incident later prompted the US to relocate its strategic bombers from the base. The court remanded Essghir in custody and granted Abdulkarim bail until their next appearance at the Central Criminal Court on November 20.

Addressing the suspected foreign state involvement in an official police update, UK Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said:

This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement. Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it. Due to their sensitive nature, national security investigations can take time to progress, and I’m grateful to everyone who has given my teams the time and space needed to pursue this work thoroughly and effectively. From the outset our priority has been to uphold the integrity of this investigation and hold those who wish to do our country harm, accountable.

Six other suspects who were initially arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006—including a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was released without charge on Tuesday following a separate NSA re-arrest—continue to be on police bail while the investigation develops.

The prosecution follows an October 13 annual threat update by MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warning of expanding state-backed plots on British soil. Since Parliament enacted the National Security Act 2023 to modernize UK counter-espionage laws, prosecutors have increasingly used its provisions to bring section 3 charges over suspected foreign intelligence cooperation and to imprison individuals convicted of spying for foreign powers.

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