Two charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford plot

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 09:58 · Archive

Two men have been charged with national security offences following an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, from London, has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Nouman Essghir, also 24 and from London, has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Both men were charged under the National Security Act 2023 and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 27 October.

The charges follow an incident in September in which seven men were arrested during an investigation into a suspected bomb plot near the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. Counter Terrorism Policing said at the time that it was 'highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement' in the incident.

The incident prompted an evacuation of more than 80 homes from the nearby village of Whelford. Armed officers established a cordon around the area as residents and their pets were moved to Cirencester Leisure Centre as a precaution. All seven men were later released and remained on police bail.

One of the two charged men was initially arrested on 27 September near the RAF base; the other was initially arrested on 1 October in Westminster. Both men were subsequently re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the Crown Prosecution Service had decided to prosecute the two individuals following the Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

How it is being reported

• BREAKING: Major RAF Fairford update as two face national security chargesTwo men have been charged with national security offences over an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.Wiltshire Times · 27 Oct, 09:11
• BREAKING: Major RAF Fairford update as two face national security chargesTwo men have been charged with national security offences over an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.Swindon Advertiser · 27 Oct, 09:11
• BREAKING: Major RAF Fairford update as two face national security chargesTwo men have been charged with national security offences over an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.Gazette & Herald · 27 Oct, 09:11

In this story: Mohmed Abdulkarim · Nouman Essghir · RAF Fairford · Counter Terrorism Policing · Crown Prosecution Service · Iran

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