British prosecutors charged two 24-year-old men under the National Security Act on October 27, 2026, over a September security breach at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire where gasoline was found in suspicious vans.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced formal charges against Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir following a counter-terrorism investigation into the high-profile September incident at the airbase in southwestern England.
Both men, both aged 24 from London, faced a scheduled appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 27.
Abdulkarim was charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023 with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Essghir was charged under Section 4 with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom, stemming from activity on August 22.
Law enforcement officials stated they believe the foreign intelligence service involved in the plot is Iran.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced that British nationals Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24 years old and originating from London, faced charges under the National Security Act.
Nouman Essghir was first arrested outside the base on September 27 and re-arrested on October 20.
Mohmed Abdulkarim was arrested in the past week.
Police Lock Down RAF Fairford In September
The criminal charges trace back to an intense security operation on September 27, 2026, when armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts swarmed the rural area surrounding RAF Fairford.
Authorities declared a major incident after intercepting three suspicious vans near the military installation.
🔴 BREAKING: British prosecutors say they had charged two men with offenses under the National Security Act following an incident in September at RAF Fairford, an airbase used by the US to strike Iran. pic.twitter.com/FLErPh1eCO
Dozens of nearby residents were evacuated from their homes while specialists searched the vehicles for explosives.
Investigators subsequently clarified that no explosive devices were recovered from the scene.
Instead, police discovered a quantity of gasoline, serving as an accelerant, packed inside the intercepted vans.
Investigators discovered three suspicious vans containing gasoline, which police described as an accelerant, but found no explosives.
Police later said they had found a quantity of an accelerant – petrol – in three vans at the site, but no explosives.
NewsCord reporting
The confrontation near the perimeter fence followed an alert from a member of the public.
BREAKING: Two men have been charged with national security offences following an incident at RAF Fairford last month.https://t.co/GY2O82hUyS pic.twitter.com/hrz7yiH97u
One local resident recalled how her swift report disrupted the scene as police arrived within minutes to detain the initial suspects.
US Bombers Face Security Threat at Fairford
The airbase at Fairford occupies a sensitive position in international defense operations.
Throughout the year, United States B-1 bombers stationed at the Gloucestershire facility carried out military strikes on Iran during active hostilities.
That operational role placed the base directly into the center of escalating security friction between Washington and Tehran.
Shortly after the September 27 breach, the United States military withdrew its bomber aircraft from RAF Fairford.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the apparent plot was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Tehran has consistently denied involvement in the incident, though Iranian officials previously asserted that any military base utilized to attack its sovereign territory constitutes a legitimate target.
BREAKING: Two men charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford investigationhttps://t.co/NuSpR0kMLS
The Iranian Embassy in London stated that the regime categorically rejects and strongly condemns attempts to link Iran to the incident.
Counter-Terrorism Investigators Pursue Multiple Inquiries
The prosecution of Abdulkarim and Essghir marks an inquiry involving investigators who describe a sprawling and complex probe.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who heads National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, emphasized that detectives continue pursuing numerous lines of inquiry.
Lawrence Taylor, the Assistant Commissioner and Head of British Counter Terrorism Policing, noted that officers are actively attempting to ascertain the exact nature, objectives, and reach of Iranian state involvement.
We know the public have unanswered questions, I want to be as transparent as possible and when we are in the position to share more, we will.
Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK
Beyond the two men appearing in court, the legal status of other detained individuals remains fluid.
A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national arrested on October 20 was released without charge but remains bound by police bail following an earlier arrest on October 1 for suspected preparation of terrorist acts.
Five additional men arrested during the investigation remain on police bail while specialist teams continue examining evidence.
Following the re-arrest of these individuals, detectives also interviewed a further man under caution.
Two men have been charged under the National Security Act following an incident at RAF Fairford last month.https://t.co/68bP2oleqe
Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, noted that prosecutors will continue working closely with partners as the investigation moves forward.
Law enforcement confirmed that the remaining five suspects stayed on bail following their re-arrests, while specialist units pressed ahead with probing the numerous avenues of investigation.