Two men are charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford ‘terror plot’ – as suspect believed to be assisting Iran

Two men have been charged over an alleged ‘terror plot’ at RAF Fairford and are set to appear in court, with one suspected of assisting Iran’s foreign intelligence service.

Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, both of Westminster, London, have been charged with offences under the National Security Act 2023.

Police descended on the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of September 27 after being alerted to the presence of three suspicious vehicles in the area.

Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes and a major counterterrorism probe was launched.

Officers arrested seven people but only Abdulkarim and Essghir have been charged with any offences. The other five remain on police bail.

Abdulkarim is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, understood to be Iran, ‘in carrying out UK-related activities’ between August 31 and September 28.

Essghir, who was arrested by officers at the scene, has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.

Both men are British nationals and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.

The foreign intelligence service Abdulkarim is suspected of assisting is Iran, counterterror police said. 

A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was re-arrested last week has been released without charge and remains on police bail, after first being detained on October 1. 

Police have also since interviewed another man under caution. 

RAF Fairford has been used as a base for US bomber jets involved in strikes on Iran since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East at the start of this year. 

America’s military has since removed all of its B-1 bombers from the site. 

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said: ‘Earlier this morning, Nouman Essghir, 24, a British national from the borough of Westminster, London, was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, for suspected activity on Saturday 22 August. 

‘He was first arrested at the scene in Gloucestershire on Sunday 27 September, and re-arrested on 20 October.

‘Essghir will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning.

‘A second man, a 25-year-old dual UK/Iranian national, re-arrested on the same date, has been released without charge. However, he remains on police bail following his first arrest on Thursday 1 October.

‘Following the re-arrest of these individuals, detectives also interviewed a further man under caution.

‘As a result, Mohammed Abdulkarim, a 24-year-old British national, from the borough of Westminster, London, has been charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which makes it an offence to assist a foreign intelligence service.

‘In this case, we believe that country to be Iran. Abdulkarim will appear at Westminster Magistrates today.

‘The five other men arrested in connection with this investigation, remain on police bail.’

He added: ‘We have seen a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state, and as the Director General of Mi5 said just the other week, we are working together to intervene, identify and respond to that threat.

‘The public can help us with this, and as always, I would urge them to report anything that they’re worried about – those reports can and do make a difference.’

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute two individuals with National Security Act offences following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into a high-profile incident involving RAF Fairford.

‘We will continue to work closely with our partners as this complex investigation continues.’