Vahid Aberi charged with assisting Iran’s intelligence service

A 39-year-old man was accused of aiding Iran’s intelligence service.

Vahid Aberi, from Liverpool, has been charged with a National Security Act offense following an investigation by the Counter Terrorism Police.

He was arrested in Birmingham on Wednesday and taken to a police station in the West Midlands, with detectives later searching properties in Birmingham and Liverpool.

Aberi was remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of London Counter Terrorism Police, said: “We have seen a significant and sustained increase in the tempo of our work in national security investigations in recent years.

“This case is another example of where we have intervened to disrupt activities suspected to be linked to foreign intelligence services.

“Whilst we cannot comment in detail on the allegations as a man has now been charged, I would like to reassure the public that we have not identified any direct threat to them, or any threat to a community or individual, in connection with this investigation.”