Two Men Appear in Court Over Alleged Iran-Linked RAF Fairford Plot

Two British nationals have appeared in court over an alleged Iran-linked plot involving RAF Fairford, a United States-operated airbase in Gloucestershire, as counter-terrorism police continue their investigation into suspicious activity near the military facility.

Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, from Westminster, London, has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Nouman Essghir, also 24 and from Westminster, faces a charge of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom.

Both men appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 27 October, and were told their case would next be heard at the Old Bailey on 20 November. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. <Cite refs={[“turn106714search3”]}/>

The case relates to an incident on 27 September, when three suspicious vans bearing the logo “Fuel2You” were spotted near RAF Fairford. Police declared a major incident, evacuated dozens of local residents and established a large cordon around the area.

Although officers found no explosives in the vehicles, a quantity of petrol was seized.

According to information presented during the court proceedings, the vans encountered a Ministry of Defence Police cordon during the early hours and rerouted to another location. Police subsequently arrived and arrested five men. One of them had reportedly called emergency services to report what was happening.

National Security Act charges

Essghir was among five men initially arrested near the airbase on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. All five were released on police bail the following day.

Essghir was rearrested on 20 October as the investigation developed. Abdulkarim was also subsequently charged following further police inquiries.

A 25-year-old British-Iranian man who was rearrested on 20 October on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service has since been released without charge. He remains on police bail following his earlier arrest on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.

Counter Terrorism Policing has confirmed that eight men have been arrested as part of the wider investigation.

The charges against Abdulkarim and Essghir were brought under the National Security Act 2023, legislation designed to address threats involving espionage and activities undertaken on behalf of foreign powers.

Police defend handling of investigation

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who leads counter-terrorism policing, said the release of the five men on bail in September had raised questions and speculation among members of the public.

He explained that counter-terrorism investigations sometimes require decisions that may appear unusual to outsiders but are based on operational considerations and evidence gathering.

Taylor said the approach taken in this case had enabled detectives to make faster progress, obtain stronger evidence and ultimately secure the charges announced on Tuesday.

His comments followed criticism after the initial arrests and subsequent release of the suspects.

US President Donald Trump also expressed surprise when the five men were released on police bail in September, saying American authorities would not have released them.

Iran-linked allegations heighten security concerns

The investigation has unfolded amid wider concerns about alleged Iranian state-linked activities in the United Kingdom and across Europe.

On 12 October, the UK government and more than 30 international partners issued a joint statement condemning what they described as Iran’s use of violent attacks, covert networks and proxy actors. The statement specifically recognised the United Kingdom’s attribution of Iranian involvement in the RAF Fairford incident. <Cite refs={[“turn955429view1”]}/>

Iran has previously denied involvement in the incident.

RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, American B-1 and B-52 bombers have used the base for operations connected to the Middle East.

Following the September incident, the United States withdrew its bombers from the airbase and returned them to America. Trump said the aircraft had been moved because of threats to the facility, without providing further details.

The investigation remains ongoing, with the next court hearing scheduled for 20 November as authorities pursue the national security case.