Westminster man charged with helping foreign intelligence service over RAF Fairford vans

A 24-year-old man from Westminster has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. The charge follows an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where three vans were stopped close to the airbase in the early hours of 27 September.

Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 27 October. Counter Terrorism Policing said it believes the foreign intelligence service involved is Iran's.

A second man, Nouman Essghir, also 24, appeared at the same hearing. He is charged under the National Security Act 2023 with entering or approaching a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the interests of the United Kingdom.

What the court heard

Prosecutors told the court that Mr Abdulkarim acted as an intermediary for a handler known as "Ali". They allege he arranged for five men to drive three vans carrying petrol to the airbase.

The court heard that in the early hours of 27 September the men were told there was a bomb, and one of them called the police. Officers found petrol in the vehicles but no explosives.

Prosecutors also allege that Mr Essghir carried out reconnaissance of the base on instructions from "Ali" in August. They say he was in one of the vans that drove to RAF Fairford the following month, and that he sent a message to "Ali" after the men were told about the bomb.

Mr Abdulkarim, who uses a wheelchair, was granted conditional bail. Mr Essghir was remanded in custody.

Both men are due to appear at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, on 20 November. The allegations have not been tested in court, and neither man has entered a plea.

The investigation so far

Counter Terrorism Policing said five men were arrested at the scene on 27 September after reports of suspicious vehicles near the base. Mr Essghir was arrested there and released on bail. He and another man were arrested again about a week before the charges were announced.

Counter Terrorism Policing first released Mr Abdulkarim's name incorrectly as Mohammed Abdul Karim, and corrected it shortly afterwards the same morning.

RAF Fairford, near Cirencester, is a Royal Air Force station used by the United States Air Force, including for long-range bomber operations. After the September incident, armed police set up roadblocks and security checks around the base.

What happens next

The case will now go to the Old Bailey, which hears the most serious criminal cases in England and Wales, including national security cases.

The National Security Act 2023 came into force in December 2023. It created new offences covering espionage, sabotage and help given to foreign intelligence services, and it updated the law on prohibited places such as military sites.

Anyone with information about suspicious activity that could be linked to terrorism or national security threats can report it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT or by calling the Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always call 999.