U.K. charges 2 men arrested over alleged Iran-linked terror plot against RAF Fairford air base used by U.S.

Key Points:

• Two British men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24 and London residents, have been charged under the 2023 National Security Act in connection with a suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, a U.S. military air base in England.
• Abdulkarim faces charges related to assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Essghir is charged with conduct prejudicial to UK safety near a prohibited place; both were arrested last week amid investigations into alleged links to Iran's intelligence service.
• The incident led to the evacuation of nearby residents and the removal of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, a base used for strikes against Iran, with police discovering gasoline in vans near the base but no explosives.
• UK authorities continue to investigate, with six other men, all UK nationals in their 20s, remaining on bail; the Iranian Embassy in London denies involvement and condemns speculation linking Iran to the incident.
• UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated the government believes Iran played a role in the incident, which has heightened security concerns around the base and ongoing monitoring of suspects.