Three Iranian nationals have been charged with suspected espionage for Iran's intelligence services from August 2024 to February 2025, UK police said on Saturday.
Three Iranian nationals have been charged with suspected espionage for Iran's intelligence services from August 2024 to February 2025, UK police said on Saturday. The three were all arrested on May 3 in what the capital's Metropolitan police called"a very complex and fast-moving investigation", and were due to appear in a London court later on Saturday.
They were named as Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all with addresses in London."These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act, which have come about following what has been a very complex and fast-moving investigation," said Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter-Terrorism command. "Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock," he added. All three were charged with"engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025," the police said.Sepahvand was also charged with"surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research... intending to commit acts, namely serious violence against a person in the United Kingdom." While Manesh and Noori were also charged with"surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the United Kingdom, would be committed by others." A fourth man was arrested on May 9 as part of the investigation, but has now been released without charge, the police added in their statement. The National Security Act gives law enforcement greater powers to disrupt"state threats" including foreign interference and espionage."These are serious events that demonstrate the ongoing requirement to adapt our response to national security threats," she said. In March, Iran became the first country to be placed on an enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme , which aims to boost the UK's national security against covert foreign influences. The measures, due to come into place later this year, will mean that all people working inside the UK for Iran, its intelligence services or the Revolutionary Guard would have to register or face jail.China and the European Union have suspended imports of chicken meat from Brazil, the world's biggest exporter of the commodity, after an outbreak of ...
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two men in court charged with 'moronic' felling of famed UK treeTwo men appeared in court on Tuesday accused of chopping down one of the UK's most iconic trees, with prosecutors saying the pair went on a 'moronic mission' in a case that sparked national outrage.
Read more »
Spain arrests couple suspected of confining kids to home for three yearsSpanish police on Wednesday said they had arrested a German couple who are suspected of confining their young children for more than three years in a squalid home that local media dubbed 'the house of horrors'.
Read more »
UK police arrest seven Iranians in counter-terrorism probesThe arrests were made in Swindon, west London, Rochdale and Manchester
Read more »
UK police arrest seven Iranians in terrorism probesBritish police said Sunday that they had arrested eight people, including seven Iranian nationals.
Read more »
US singer Brown ordered held until June in UK assault caseAmerican R&B singer Chris Brown, former boyfriend of superstar Rihanna, was Friday remanded in custody until June 13 by a UK court, charged with assault over a 2023 incident.
Read more »
Iran, European powers hold nuclear talks in TurkeyIran met with European powers on Friday to discuss its nuclear negotiations with Washington, while US President Donald Trump issued a new threat unless the Iranians 'move quickly' towards a deal.
Read more »