Two Charged in Alleged Iran Spy Plot Targeting London Jews

Two Iranian men have been charged under the National Security Act for allegedly spying on the Jewish community in London, according to multiple reports from Daily Mail, The Guardian, and Sky News. Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual Iranian and British national, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, were arrested on March 6 as part of an investigation by counter-terror police. They are accused of engaging in contact likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 last year.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that the charges relate to Iran. The men will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, as reported by all three outlets. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that these are extremely serious charges resulting from a complex investigation.

The investigation began after suspicious activities of the suspected Iranian cell were noticed and a member of the Jewish community tipped off police. According to Daily Mail, the cell had been under surveillance for months, but officers accelerated their arrest plans due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Europol had warned that the conflict in Iran would have immediate repercussions, including an increased threat of terrorism and cyber attacks in Europe.

The suspects have not been accused of any specific attack plot, but officers believe their actions were part of a longer-term plan by Tehran to target the Jewish community in London. Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim North and East London, noted that police patrols have been stepped up since the conflict in Iran began. He expressed hope that these arrests would reduce concerns within the community.