Armed police have arrested four men suspected of spying for Iran and allegedly targeting synagogues and Jewish people in London. The arrests were made under the National Security Act and are the first involving suspects alleged to be acting in Iran's interests since the country was attacked by the US and Israel.
The men detained are one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, aged 40, 55, 22, and 52. Three were arrested in London and one in Hertfordshire, during early-morning operations on Friday. Six additional men were detained on suspicion of assisting an offender, and one was also arrested for allegedly assaulting an officer.
Counter-terrorism detectives and MI5 have been investigating for months whether the alleged surveillance of Jewish locations and individuals was linked to a desire to carry out attacks on British soil. Searches are being conducted at addresses in Barnet, Harrow, Watford, and Wembley, with detectives focusing on electronic devices and communications.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the arrests meant police had kept "Britain safe from a potential threat," adding that the Jewish community and wider public would be concerned. She thanked police and security services and urged vigilance. Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London said the arrests were part of a long-running investigation to disrupt malign activity.
British security officials believe Iran wants to attack Jewish targets in the UK, viewing it as a strike against Israel. The Community Safety Trust said security across the Jewish community is strong, while Campaign Against Antisemitism thanked police for foiling the alleged plot, noting that plotters only need to get lucky once. In October last year, MI5's director general said 20 Iran-linked plots had been disrupted in the previous 12 months.
