Two Men Charged Under National Security Act Over RAF Fairford Incident

Two men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, have been charged under the UK’s National Security Act following a counterterrorism investigation into an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Abdulkarim is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK; both were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The investigation began after three suspicious vehicles were reported near the airbase on September 27, prompting a major incident declaration and the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes. Police have said Iranian state involvement is considered highly likely, though the charges do not identify a foreign intelligence service, and five other men arrested remain on bail.