Two men charged over RAF Fairford incident as police link case to Iran

Two men have been charged under the National Security Act over the incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last month. Mohammed Abdel Karim, 24, is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, which counter-terrorism police believe is Iran's. Numan Eskir, also 24, is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK, with prosecutors alleging he approached the base on 22 August, more than a month before the main incident. Both are British nationals from London. They appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and are due at the Old Bailey on 20 November. Six other men remain on police bail.

At the hearing, the court was told that a group of men had been ordered to drive vans loaded with petrol to RAF Fairford by a handler known as Ali, who police believe was operating from abroad on behalf of Iran. One of the group is alleged to have called 999 himself after being warned there was a bomb in a van. The first emergency call came at about 12.45am on Sunday 27 September, before a local farmer also called police after seeing masked men and three vans near the base.

Armed officers arrested five men in the village of Whelford. A 400-metre cordon was set up and about 85 homes were evacuated. Army bomb disposal experts used a robot to examine the vans. Police later said no improvised explosive devices were found, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. The original five, all UK nationals in their 20s from London, were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. They were released on police bail with stringent conditions, a decision that drew criticism from President Donald Trump. Police defended the move, saying it had led to faster progress and better evidence.

The investigation has also been shaped by the base's role. RAF Fairford is used by the US Air Force and was used this year for operations against Iran. Tehran has denied involvement, while US officials and later the UK prime minister said there were strong indications that Iran was involved. In a Commons statement, the Prime Minister said it was highly likely the incident was coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC. The Foreign Secretary summoned Iran's ambassador and the US withdrew its bombers from the base, citing security concerns.

Counter-terrorism police say the case is part of a wider increase in Iran-linked activity. They have described the use of proxies who may know little or nothing about the operation behind them. The investigation continues, with six other men on bail and police saying more lines of inquiry remain open.