Two men have been charged under Britain’s National Security Act following the RAF Fairford investigation, Counter Terrorism Policing said on October 27. One charge concerns alleged assistance to a foreign intelligence service that police believe to be Iran; the other concerns alleged entry to a prohibited place.
These are allegations, not convictions. The announcement is a development in the investigation into September’s events near the Gloucestershire airbase, not a report of another attack today.
The two charges are different
Police identify Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, a British national from Westminster, as charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, attributed the alleged foreign-intelligence connection to Iran.
Nouman Essghir, also 24 and British, faces a Section 4 charge relating to suspected activity on August 22. Reuters’ October 27 report, citing prosecutors, describes that count as entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
The police notice listed court appearances at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 27. It does not establish a verdict or the outcome of those hearings.
A separate suspect was released without charge
The same update says a different man, a 25-year-old dual UK–Iranian national re-arrested on October 20, was released without charge but remains on police bail following his earlier arrest. He should not be confused with either defendant named above.
What happened at Fairford?
The investigation followed reports of suspicious vehicles near the base on September 27. In its September 29 update, police said petrol was recovered but no improvised explosive devices were found. That statement does not establish the ultimate purpose of the vehicles or anyone’s guilt.
Associated Press’ October 27 account notes that American bombers had used Fairford for strikes on Iran, and that Iran has denied involvement in the alleged plot.
The new charging announcement does not report a fresh civilian-airport closure or new airline cancellations. This remains an ongoing security and criminal investigation; claims about motive and responsibility must remain attributed.
See our UK aviation coverage for related reporting.
Archive/context: B-1B 85-0060 on static display at RAF Fairford, July 16, 2017; not the September 2026 incident or October charges. Jim van de Burgt / Wikimedia Commons, CC0, as recorded on the Commons file page and Flickr licence review. Resized/compressed to WebP; visible photographer watermark retained.
