UK Prosecutors Link RAF Fairford Incident to Iranian Intelligence

The United Kingdom has formally accused two London men of plotting against a US-run military base in England. The incident has intensified concerns about Iranian influence on British soil following this year's conflict with Tehran.

Prosecutors charged Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir under the National Security Act. Both men are 24 years old. Abdulkarim holds dual British and Iranian citizenship, while Essghir is a British citizen. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that Abdulkarim is accused of assisting Iran's intelligence service. Essghir faces charges for entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both defendants were scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

The alleged plot targeted RAF Fairford in western England. The base served as a launch point for American bombers striking Iran during the current war. Essghir was initially arrested on September 27 outside the base. Armed police and army bomb disposal experts evacuated scores of residents from nearby homes. Searchers found gasoline in vans at the scene but located no explosives. Essghir was released on bail before being re-arrested last week. Abdulkarim was arrested within the past week. Six other men have also been detained and released on bail as the investigation continues.

British authorities say the incident prompted the United States to withdraw its B-1 bombers from Fairford. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the plot was almost certainly directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Ken McCallum, head of the UK domestic security service, said Tehran seeks to intensify attacks in Britain beyond its traditional targets. McCallum noted that more than 50 people have been arrested in the past year for Iran-linked plots. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who leads National Counter Terrorism Policing, said recent incidents appear to be directed by the Iranian state.

Tehran has denied involvement in the specific incident. Iranian officials have previously stated that any base used to attack their territory constitutes a legitimate target. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both publicly suggested Iranian involvement at some level. The US military removed several bombers from the site days after the initial arrests.