Two charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incident
Two British men face national security charges after RAF Fairford investigation
Ninoda.com – Two British nationals have been charged with national security offences following a counter-terrorism investigation connected to suspicious activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, with Iran’s intelligence service suspected to be involved. Nouman Essghir, also 24, has been charged over an alleged entry into a prohibited location on 22 August, before the later incident near the airbase.
Both men are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Charges follow arrests near the airbase
Essghir, a British national from Westminster, was initially detained near RAF Fairford on 27 September. He was arrested again on 20 October as the investigation developed.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who leads counter-terrorism policing, said Essghir faces a charge under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023. The allegation concerns entering a prohibited place for a purpose considered harmful to the interests of the United Kingdom.
“Entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.”
Abdulkarim’s charge relates to alleged assistance provided to a foreign intelligence service after the September events near the base. Such allegations are treated separately from offences involving explosives or preparations for terrorist acts, although several strands of the wider investigation have involved both national security and counter-terrorism powers.
Vans, petrol and a prolonged security operation
The investigation began after three vans were seen close to the US-operated airbase on 27 September. Police searched the vehicles and found no explosive material, although officers seized a quantity of petrol.
A substantial security perimeter was imposed around RAF Fairford for several days after the incident. The response reflected the importance of the site and the need for investigators to establish whether the vehicles, those involved and any items recovered presented a wider risk.
Five men were arrested near the base in September on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were later also arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. In total, eight men have been arrested during the counter-terrorism inquiry.
Six men remain on police bail. Bail does not amount to a finding of guilt; it allows investigators to continue inquiries while imposing conditions on those involved where necessary.
One suspect released without charge
A 25-year-old UK-Iranian man who was re-arrested on 20 October on suspicion of helping a foreign intelligence service has been released without charge.
He remains on police bail following his original arrest on 1 October, when he was detained on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Detectives interviewed Abdulkarim after the October re-arrests, leading to the charge now announced.
Iran has previously rejected claims of involvement in the RAF Fairford incident.
Why RAF Fairford is significant
RAF Fairford has served for decades as a forward operating location for the United States Air Force. Its role means activity around the base can carry implications beyond Gloucestershire, particularly during periods of heightened international tension.
In recent months, US B-1 and B-52 bombers operated from RAF Fairford on flights to the Middle East. The United Kingdom had approved a request for the base to be used in connection with defensive strikes against Iran.
Following the September incident, the United States withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford and returned them to America. The movement underlined the operational sensitivity surrounding the base, even though police did not find explosive materials in the vans searched during the initial response.
The court proceedings will determine how the allegations against Abdulkarim and Essghir are handled at the next stage. Charges are accusations, and both defendants are entitled to a fair hearing before any conclusions are reached.
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