UK charges two men over alleged Iran-linked RAF Fairford incident

Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, were charged under the National Security Act and were due at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Al Jazeera identified Abdulkarim as a British-Iranian dual national and Essghir as a British citizen; Al-Monitor, citing Reuters, described Abdulkarim as a British national and Essghir as a dual British-Iranian national. The reports did not resolve the discrepancy. Al-Monitor said Abdulkarim was accused of conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service between August 31 and September 28, with police saying the country is believed to be Iran. Essghir was charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK over August 22 and was first arrested outside the base on September 27, according to the reports. RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran; Al-Monitor reported the bombers were withdrawn on security grounds shortly after arrests outside the base. Police said six other people remain on bail. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the activity was likely coordinated in Iran, a claim Iran's ambassador denied; BBC Persian reported Iran denied any connection and condemned the British government. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police believed the country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran.