UK prosecutors charge 2 with national security offenses over RAF Fairford incident

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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

British prosecutors says they 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.

Police said last week they had rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence in connection with the incident.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article puts the two charges straight after the line about two men rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence. It never says that one of those rearrested, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was released without charge. It also never says that only one of the charged men, Mohmed Abdulkarim, is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, which police believe to be Iran. The other, Nouman Essghir, is charged under Section 4 over activity on 22 August. A reader may come away thinking both charged men are accused of helping Iranian intelligence.

How we know

Daily Mail reported“A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was re-arrested last week has been released without charge and remains on police bail”Two men are charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford 'terror plot' - as suspect believed to be assisting Iran (opens in a new tab)
ITV News reported“was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, for suspected activity on Saturday 22 August”Two men charged under National Security Act after suspected RAF Fairford terror plot (opens in a new tab)

The base had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran, but American B-1 bombers were withdrawn shortly after five British men were arrested outside the military base in southwest England in the early hours of September 27.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that the activity at RAF Fairford was likely to have been coordinated in Iran, which Iran’s ambassador to Britain has denied.

What it gets right

“British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that the activity at RAF Fairford was likely to have been coordinated in Iran, which Iran’s ambassador to Britain has denied.”
The outlet attributes the claim of Iranian coordination to the person who made it, keeps his hedge ('likely'), and reports Iran's denial rather than stating the claim as fact.
“national security offenses over RAF Fairford incident”
The headline describes the charges as they were brought and calls the event an incident. It does not adopt the unproven 'terror plot' label used by some other outlets.

UK prosecutors charge 2 with national security offenses over RAF Fairford incident

Leaves out what changes the picture

What it gets right

How other outlets reported it

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