Two men charged under UK National Security Act over RAF Fairford incident
publishers 54articles 58first reported 27 Oct, 09:12 UTCdeveloping since 27 Oct · 5 editions
British prosecutors have charged two 24-year-old men under the National Security Act following an investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire airbase used by the U.S. military.
Mohmed Abdulkarim of London was charged with conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service between Aug. 31 and Sept. 28. Counter Terrorism Policing said the service was believed to be Iranian. Nouman Essghir, also of London, was charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom on Aug. 22.
The men were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The charges follow an incident in the early hours of Sept. 27, when five men were arrested near the base after suspicious vehicles were reported in the area. Eight men have been arrested during the wider investigation, with six remaining on police bail.
RAF Fairford had been used by U.S. bombers for strikes on Iran. The aircraft were later withdrawn on security grounds, according to multiple reports.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK National Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators believed Iran was the foreign intelligence service involved. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also said the activity was likely coordinated in Iran, an allegation denied by Iran’s ambassador to Britain. The investigation remains ongoing.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 6 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 54
- Source articles
- 58
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 6 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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