Two men charged over RAF Fairford national security incident

Summarised from 12 outlets · 13 reports · Updated 27 Oct, 10:02 · Archive

Two men have been charged under the National Security Act following an investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford in September.

Two men have been charged under the National Security Act 2023 following an investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, both from Westminster, London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Abdulkarim has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Essghir has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Counter Terrorism Policing said it is highly likely that Iranian state involvement is connected to the case.

The investigation began on 27 September when armed police stopped three suspicious vehicles near the airbase, which is used by United States forces. Five men were initially arrested at the scene. A quantity of petrol was seized, though no explosive materials were found in the vehicles.

Following the initial arrests, those five men were released under strict bail conditions. Two more men were subsequently arrested and bailed. On 20 October, two men, including Abdulkarim and Essghir, were re-arrested. Another man, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national who was also re-arrested on that date, was later released without charge but remains on police bail. Five other men arrested during the investigation remain on police bail.

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."

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of national counter terrorism policing, said: "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."

US bombers were withdrawn from Fairford on security grounds shortly after the September arrests, according to one report.

How it is being reported

• Two Londoners charged over RAF Fairford plot 'to aid Iran'Two men charged are both British nationals and were believed to be assisting Iran, police saidEvening Standard · 27 Oct, 09:52
• Two men charged over alleged terror plot at RAF Fairford namedTwo men from London are due to appear in court today.Metro · 27 Oct, 09:46
• Two UK nationals charged over RAF Fairford ‘plot to aid Iran’Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.Evening Standard · 27 Oct, 09:41
• Two men face UK national security charges following an incident near RAF Fairford, with police suspecting Iranian state involvementBritish prosecutors have charged two men over an incident near RAF Fairford in September. Police suspect Iranian involvement in the case at a base used for US strikes on Iran.DW News · 27 Oct, 09:32
• Two men charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incidentThe men will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.Daily Express · 27 Oct, 09:28
• Two charged over RAF Fairford suspected terror plotMohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24 were charged following a investigation into a suspected terror plot, the Crown Prosecution Service has saidThe Mirror · 27 Oct, 09:17
• Two men charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incidentOne charged assisting a foreign intelligence service and the other with entering a prohibited place, CPS says Two men have been charged with national security offences after an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford. The Crown Prosecution Service said Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, were both charged under the National Security Act 2023. Continue reading...Guardian World · 27 Oct, 09:17
• Two men charged under National Security Act after RAF Fairford incidentTwo men have been charged with national security offences after an incident near RAF Fairford last month, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.BBC News · 27 Oct, 09:15
• Two men charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford investigationTwo people have been charged under the National Security Act following a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, have been charged after an investigation into the suspected terror plot, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Abdulkarim, of London, has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service while Essghir, also of London, has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. The two men will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Frank Ferguson, Chief…GB News · 27 Oct, 09:13
• Two men charged over alleged terror plot at RAF FairfordTwo men have been charged following an investigation into a suspected terror plot involving RAF Fairford.The Independent · 27 Oct, 09:12
• UK prosecutors charge two after RAF Fairford incidentThis is a breaking news story.Al Jazeera · 27 Oct, 09:12
• Two men are charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford incidentMohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, both of Westminster, London, have both been charged with offences under the National Security Act 2023.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 09:08
• Men charged over RAF Fairford incidentTwo men have been charged with national security offences following an incident at RAF Fairford last month.Sky News · 27 Oct, 08:30

In this story: Mohmed Abdulkarim · Nouman Essghir · RAF Fairford · Iran · Westminster Magistrates' Court · Counter Terrorism Policing · Crown Prosecution Service · Gloucestershire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem