Two men charged over RAF Fairford plot linked to Iran

Two men charged after RAF Fairford incident

On 27 October 2026, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that two 24‑year‑old British nationals, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, had been charged under the 2023 National Security Act. The charges relate to a suspected terror plot that unfolded at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in late September. Police said the men were directed by a handler believed to be working for Iranian intelligence to drive white vans loaded with petrol toward the base. One of the five men involved called the police early on 27 September after the handler warned them of a bomb in the vans. The case is the first time anyone has been formally charged over the incident at Fairford, after seven suspects were arrested in the days following the September event and subsequently released on bail.

Background

RAF Fairford has been used by the United States to launch B‑1 bomber strikes on Iran. In the weeks after the September incident, the United States withdrew all of its B‑1 bombers from the base on security grounds. The incident began when a local farmer reported a group of men with several white vans engaging in suspicious activity near the base. Counter‑terrorism police arrested five men on the scene in Gloucestershire. They were released on bail but remained under investigation. The head of National Counter‑Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said the activity was conducted on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, believed to be Iran. He also noted that the two men charged had been involved in the plot.

Why it matters

The charges highlight the threat posed by foreign intelligence services operating in the United Kingdom. The National Security Act allows the state to prosecute individuals who assist foreign intelligence or engage in conduct prejudicial to UK interests. The incident prompted a review of security at RAF Fairford and the withdrawal of U.S. bombers, underscoring the base’s strategic importance. The case also illustrates the UK’s willingness to take legal action against suspected foreign‑state‑linked threats.

What happens next

The men are currently in custody awaiting further court proceedings. The Crown Prosecution Service has not yet set a trial date. Police continue to investigate the broader plot and the extent of Iranian involvement. The UK government has stated that it believes Iran played a part in the incident, but no formal diplomatic action has been announced.

The case remains under active investigation, with authorities monitoring the five men who were initially detained and the other suspects released on bail.