Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, of London, appeared in court on Tuesday charged under the National Security Act 2023 with acting as an “intermediary” for an alleged Iranian handler known as 'Ali' in the RAF Fairford plot.
Prosecutors allege that Abdulkarim assisted Ali, buying equipment for the mission and receiving multiple payments from him totalling around £70,000. Ali is believed to have left the UK.
Alleged plot details
Before the five men allegedly enlisted by Abdulkarim travelled to RAF Fairford, £300 worth of petrol was filled into drums in the back of vans. One of the five men, held at gunpoint in the RAF Fairford terror probe, phoned the police after being warned there was a bomb in one of the vans, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.
The group, all from London, were ordered to drive vans loaded with petrol by an Iranian handler known as 'Ali', prosecutors said. They received a message that a device was in a vehicle, the court heard.
Court appearances
Nouman Essghir, also 24, of London, appeared alongside Abdulkarim. Essghir was charged with a national security offence after carrying out a “reconnaissance” mission on August 22, around a month before the Fairford incident. Both men spoke in court to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.
After loading the vans and travelling to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the five men were allegedly told to park the vans and walk away by the organiser over the phone. Prosecuting, Louise Gray said: “Shortly thereafter the message was received that there was a bomb in the vehicles and one of them called the police.”
Police attended, located three white vans and five men, who were arrested. No explosives or improvised explosives were found in the vans, the court heard. Police did find a metal oil drum in each, two of which had petrol in, along with hard plastic water butts and internet-enabled dashcams.
Iranian state connection
Abdulkarim is alleged to have aided the organiser, Ali, who is believed to be abroad and to be acting in the interests of the Iranian state. Ali is also potentially connected to an incident at the Israeli embassy earlier this year, where propaganda videos were posted online suggesting it had been attacked with a chemical weapon by a drone, the court heard.
Essghir, who was also alleged to have known Ali, was among those arrested near the Fairford base on September 27, before he was re-arrested on October 20. The charge Essghir faces relates to alleged filming of the perimeter of RAF Fairford on August 22 at the request of Ali, the court heard.
RAF Fairford is used by the United States Air Force (USAF), and heavy bombers arrived there in March following permission being granted for “defensive operations” in Iran.
Police response
The revelations come after the head of counter-terrorism policing defended their handling of the probe. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, admitted some decisions can “appear illogical”, after seven men were initially released on bail. He suggested the suspects were let out on police bail as part of a tactical move to gather evidence.
Assistant Commissioner Taylor said: “For the public, this incident was defined by images of three vans, being stopped and searched by armed police officers, and the arrest of five men at the scene. The subsequent release of those five men on police bail, sparked significant questions and speculation about the investigation and why that was the case. We know that decisions made during our investigations can sometimes appear illogical to those on the outside, but I want to make it very clear that there will always be good reason, or rationale behind them. We will always ensure that, should we identify any ongoing threat, we will manage that as part of the investigation. Like our adversaries, our tactics vary – and may not always be obvious. In this case, this decision-making has led to swifter progress, better evidence and ultimately us securing the charges I have announced today. While some of the circumstances remain unclear, we are confident that this activity was conducted on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.”
The senior officer confirmed specialists believe the plot was being orchestrated by a “foreign intelligence service”, widely believed to be Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A 25-year-old dual UK/Iranian national, re-arrested on October 20 on suspicion of aiding Iran’s intelligence service, has been released without charge but remains on police bail after being arrested on October 1 on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Five other men arrested during the investigation remain on police bail.
Abdulkarim, who was in a wheelchair in court, has been granted bail with conditions including residence and the surrender of his passport. Essghir has been remanded in custody, and both men will next appear at the Old Bailey on November 20.
