Sky News interrupted its morning broadcast on Friday, July 17, 2026, to deliver an urgent breaking news update from the Metropolitan Police. The announcement concerned the arrest and charging of a 39-year-old man under the National Security Act for allegedly assisting Iran's intelligence service.
Arrest and Charges
Hosts Anna Jones and Kamali Melbourne were presenting the day's headlines when they paused the programme to share the update. Mr Melbourne stated: "I want to give you a line of breaking news from the Metropolitan Police. They are saying that a 39-year-old man has been charged with a National Security Act offence following a proactive investigation by the Counter Terrorism Police. They say this individual was arrested on Wednesday, July 15, in Birmingham on suspicion of an offence under Section Three of the National Security Act, assisting a foreign intelligence service, and they say that the country is Iran."
Suspect Identified
Ms Jones identified the suspect as Vahid Aberi, of Liverpool. She reported: "This is Vahid Aberi, of Liverpool, who police say was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, and they say he's been remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court later today."
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest occurred on Wednesday, July 15, in Birmingham. The investigation was led by the Counter Terrorism Police, highlighting the seriousness of the alleged offence under the National Security Act.
Impact and Ongoing Coverage
The breaking news caused a temporary halt to the regular programming on Sky News, underscoring the significance of the development. The suspect remains in custody pending his court appearance. This story is developing, and further updates are expected as the legal process unfolds.
