Four men arrested suspected of spying for Iran in south-east England | UK news
Armed police arrested four men for allegedly spying for Iran and targeting Jewish individuals as well as synagogues in London.
Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating why the alleged surveillance of Jewish places and people was carried out and whether this was linked to a desire to launch attacks on British territory.
Part of the investigation is looking at allegations of in-person surveillance in London and whether this was directed from abroad. The operation by counter-terrorism police and MI5 had been ongoing for months.
The arrest of the four men, one Iranian and three British/Iranian nationals, was carried out under the National Security Act and is among the first suspects allegedly acting in Iran’s interests since Iran was attacked by the US and Israel.
Three of the arrests were made in London and one in Hertfordshire. Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said the arrests meant police were “protecting the UK from a potential threat”.
Police said those arrested were a 40-year-old man and a 55-year-old man who were detained at addresses in Barnet, north London. A 22-year-old man was arrested in Harrow, west London, while a 52-year-old man was arrested in Watford.
The arrests were made at 1am on Friday morning. Police said six people were also detained at the address in Harrow for allegedly helping an offender.
Among those arrested were men aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two men aged 20; one of them was arrested for attacking the police.
Police said: “The investigation relates to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.”
Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 prohibits any action aimed at “materially assisting a foreign intelligence service in carrying out activities relating to the United Kingdom”. Those arrested can be detained without charge for up to two weeks.
Police said searches were also carried out at addresses, another address in Barnet and an address in Wembley.
Detectives are primarily looking for electronic devices and any communications with others not in custody that could prove or disprove their suspicions.
Major Helen Flanagan, Head of London Counter Terrorism Police, said: “Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation and our ongoing work to disrupt malicious activity where we suspect it.
“We understand that the public, particularly the Jewish community, may be concerned and, as always, I ask that they remain vigilant and contact us if they see or hear anything that concerns them.”
British security officials believe that Iran wants to attack Jewish targets in Britain and that this would amount to an attack against the state of Israel.
Mahmood said: “I would like to thank the police and our security services for their action today to protect the UK from a potential threat.
“The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned about today’s arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and contact those affected.
“I can assure you that our police and security services are world-leading and will not hesitate to act against any threat to the UK. They will continue to use all the tools and powers at their disposal to keep this country safe. They have the full support of the government as they carry out their vital work.”
“We must now give them the time and space to continue their research.”
The Community Safety Trust, which works to keep Jewish people in Britain safe, said: “The safety of the Jewish community is strong. CST thanks the Counter Terrorism Police in London and will have no further comment at this time.”
A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which highlights the reality in which the Jewish community lives. But the security services always have to be lucky: the conspirators only have to be lucky once.”
In October last year, MI5’s director general, Ken McCallum, said 20 Iran-linked plots had been foiled on British soil in the past 12 months. Most of these were against Iranian opposition targets, and at least one was linked to an Israeli target in Britain.
The attacks on Israel on 7 October and the subsequent attacks on Gaza caused a significant increase in attacks against Jews in the UK. In addition to Iranian proxies threatening the Jewish people, officials also point to threats from Islamist terrorist groups such as the Islamic State.
Last year, an attack on a synagogue in Manchester, suspected to be inspired by ISIS, killed two people in addition to the attacker. All those arrested on Friday are still in custody.
