Two charged over Iran-related incident at UK airbase

British prosecutors have charged two men in connection with a September incident at Royal Air Force Fairford, which is also used by US forces. Counterterrorism police suspect they assisted Iran, AnewZ reported.

Mohammad Abdulkarim, 24, is charged with engaging in conduct likely to provide significant assistance to a foreign intelligence service. Numan Essghir, also 24, is accused of entering a prohibited place with the purpose of harming the interests of the United Kingdom.

Both men were charged under the National Security Act following an investigation into the incident at Fairford airbase. They are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of the UK’s National Counter Terrorism Policing, said police believe the country Abdulkarim is suspected of assisting is Iran.

Five British men aged 23 to 25 were arrested early on Sept. 27 in the village of Welford, near the base. Police launched the operation after receiving information about three suspicious vehicles heading towards the base. At the time, 12 US B-1B Lancer bombers were stationed at Fairford; the United States later withdrew them.

Fairford is a British base also used by the US Air Force. In recent months, US bombers have flown from there after the British government authorized the use of the base for defensive strikes against Iran.

Iran has categorically denied involvement in the incident at Fairford. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Britain had “gone to the wrong address.” The decision to release the suspects on bail drew criticism from US officials, including President Donald Trump.

Frank Ferguson, chief prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the service had decided to prosecute two men under the National Security Act following an investigation into an incident at Fairford airbase that had attracted significant public interest.

The other five men arrested as part of the investigation have been released on bail under police conditions.