Spy plot targeting UK Jewish community uncovered, two charged

British prosecutors have charged two men with spying for Iran by conducting surveillance of people and locations linked to the Jewish community, in an investigation that began prior to the current conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reports.

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual Iranian-British national, and Alireza Farasati, 22, an Iranian national, were charged following an investigation into their actions in north London over a five-week period during July and August of last year.

British lawmakers and the domestic intelligence agency MI5 have repeatedly warned of threats posed by Iran in the UK, with a number of arrests and disrupted plots in recent years, including prior to the US-Israeli military campaign that began nearly three weeks ago.

Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Police, said the investigation should reassure Jewish communities that police take any threats to their safety seriously. “These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act, which have come about following what has been a very complex investigation,” she said in a statement.

The two men were arrested earlier this month and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Police confirmed that two other men arrested during the same operation have been released without charge.

By Vafa Guliyeva