World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Two men charged over incident at RAF Fairford
UK prosecutors charged two men on Tuesday over an incident at RAF Fairford.
The incident took place last month at the British air force base.
Police suspect the men of supporting Iran.
They have been charged under the National Security Act.
The charges concern an incident at a military base, but no further details about what happened are given.
The next steps in the case are not stated.
British prosecutors charged two 24-year-old men under the National Security Act over an incident at RAF Fairford in September.
Police suspect Mohmed Abdulkarim of assisting Iran, while he is charged with conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service.
Nouman Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
The men were due to appear in court on October 27.
The base had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran, and the bombers were withdrawn shortly after the incident.
- Who
- Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both aged 24.
- What
- They were charged under the National Security Act over an incident at RAF Fairford. Police suspect Abdulkarim assisted Iran.
- When
- The charges were announced on October 27, 2026. The incident was in September.
- Where
- RAF Fairford, an airbase in Gloucestershire, south-west England.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege Abdulkarim engaged in conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, and that Essghir entered a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
UK police and prosecutors
Iran’s ambassador to the UK
Coordination of activity at RAF Fairford
UK police and prosecutors
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the activity was likely to have been coordinated in Iran.
Iran’s ambassador to the UK
Iran’s ambassador to the UK denied this.
Abdulkarim’s alleged assistance
UK police and prosecutors
Police said they believed the country he was assisting was Iran.
Iran’s ambassador to the UK
Not stated
Essghir is alleged to have entered a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
Five British men were arrested outside RAF Fairford; Al Jazeera reports Essghir was arrested outside the base that day.
US B-1 bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford.
Abdulkarim was arrested.
Prosecutors charged Abdulkarim and Essghir, who were due to appear in court later that day.
- Charges
- National Security Act
- Mohmed Abdulkarim
- 24; charged with conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service
- Nouman Essghir
- 24; charged over entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK
- Charge date
- October 27, 2026
- Base
- RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, south-west England
- Alleged country assisted
- Iran
5 sources
2 British Men Charged Over RAF Fairford Incident
Twee mannen aangeklaagd voor incident bij Britse luchtmachtbasis
Two men charged in Britain with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident
Two men charged over suspected RAF Fairford airbase terror plot
UK prosecutors charge two after RAF Fairford incident
What people are saying
police believed the country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran
the activity at RAF Fairford was likely to have been coordinated in Iran
Not stated