UK charges 2 men in suspected Iran-linked incident at RAF Fairford after US bombers pulled
British prosecutors charged two men Tuesday under the U.K.’s National Security Act following an incident at RAF Fairford, a key base used by the U.S. military’s heavy bombers. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, of London, was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service. Nouman Essghir, 24, was charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. British counterterrorism police said they believe the foreign country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran, Reuters reported.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
Iran's ambassador to Britain has denied the claim that the activity at RAF Fairford was coordinated in Iran. Without this, a reader sees only the British police view of Iranian involvement and does not know it is disputed.
How we know
- The Jerusalem Post reported“likely to have been coordinated in Iran, which Tehran's ambassador to Britain has denied”Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident (opens in a new tab)
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
Essghir's charge of entering a prohibited place relates to 22 August, not the 27 September incident. Without this, a reader may believe he is charged over the September night described in the article.
How we know
- The Jerusalem Post reported“was charged with one offense of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK on August 22”Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident (opens in a new tab)
RUBIO CONFIRMS 'FOREIGN ACTOR' INVOLVED IN UK TERROR PLOT The charges follow a September incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. British police arrested five men outside the base in the early hours of Sept. 27, according to Reuters. The base had been used by U.S. bombers to carry out strikes against Iran. About a dozen B-1 bombers were among the aircraft later withdrawn from RAF Fairford and returned to their home stations in the United States on security grounds, according to previous Fox News reporting.
FOILED TERROR PLOT AT BOMBER BASE SIGNALS WIDER THREAT TO US MILITARY INSTALLATIONS: EXPERT RAF Fairford serves as a key European operating location for U.S. heavy bombers and has supported American military missions. Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the agency decided to prosecute the two men following a "complex" counterterrorism investigation. "We will continue to work closely with our partners as this complex investigation continues," Ferguson said.
Both men were expected to appear Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP The CPS emphasized that the charges are not findings of guilt and that both defendants have the right to a fair trial.
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