The Sun, on UK Politics, 27 October 2026

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Two men, 24, charged under National Security Act

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Next TWO men have been charged amid the investigation into a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford. Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, have both been charged under the National Security Act 2023. 4 Five suspects were pictured shirtless and handcuffed by the roadside last month Credit: Free for editorial use 4 Cops launched an investigation into a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford Credit: Doug Seeburg Advertisement Abdulkarim, from Westminster, London, is charged with one offence of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

He is accused of engaging in conduct that was likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Counter Terror cops said Abdulkarim was believed to be assisting Iran.

Essghir, also from London, was charged with one offence of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK. Five men in their early 20s were arrested on suspicion of terrorism near RAF Fairford on September 27 after one called the police . A local farmer also dialled 999 after getting no answer when she called the guardroom at the US strategic base in Gloucestershire. 4 Fears of a secondary blitz, possibly from drones or arson, triggered the withdrawal of all 12 US bombers in the days afterwards Credit: AP 4 Helicopter footage taken near the base showed a wheeled robot operating close to three parked white vans Credit: Marc Giddings Advertisement In total, seven men were arrested in connection with the investigation.

Fears of a secondary blitz, possibly from drones or arson, triggered the withdrawal of all 12 US bombers in the days afterwards. Most read in The Sun BREW ERA Cups of tea becoming outdated as young Brits opt for alternative hot drinks FUN POLICE Moment planning officer investigates girl's teddy bear café after complaint HOME HELL I spent 7 years transforming my house… now killjoy council want me to DEMOLISH it LOAD OF RUBBISH Fury as UK council makes households put out TWELVE separate bins The security scare last month saw armed cops swoop in on three vans near to the military base.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The Sun reports that armed police swooped on three vans near the base, that a wheeled robot worked near them, and that fears of a "secondary blitz" drove the withdrawal of US bombers. It never says that no explosive devices were found in the seized vans. Without that, a reader believes the vans held a bomb threat that police defused.

The Gloucestershire base has been used by US bombers to carry out strikes against Iran . Iran has previously denied involvement. Advertisement Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute two individuals with National Security Act offences following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into a high-profile incident involving RAF Fairford.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners as this complex investigation continues.” The first hearing will take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of national counter terrorism policing in the UK, added: “We have seen a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state, and as the director general of MI5 said just the other week, we are working together to intervene, identify and respond to that threat.

“The public can help us with this, and as always I would urge them to report anything that they’re worried about – those reports can and do make a difference.” Advertisement He continued: “Earlier this morning, Nouman Essghir, 24, a British national from the borough of Westminster, London, was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, for suspected activity on Saturday 22 August. “He was first arrested at the scene in Gloucestershire on Sunday 27 September, and re-arrested on 20 October.

“Essghir will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning. “A second man, a 25-year-old dual UK/Iranian national, re-arrested on the same date, has been released without charge. However, he remains on police bail following his first arrest on Thursday 1 October. “Following the re-arrest of these individuals, detectives also interviewed a further man under caution. Advertisement RECOMMENDED STORIES “As a result, Mohammed Abdulkarim, a 24-year-old British national, from the borough of Westminster, London, has been charged under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023, which makes it an offence to assist a foreign intelligence service.

“In this case, we believe that country to be Iran. Abdulkarim will appear at Westminster Magistrates today.”

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What we found (2)

The Sun reports that two men have been charged under the National Security Act after the RAF Fairford investigation. Its headline drops the word "suspected" that its own first sentence uses and turns the incident into an established "plot", although the charges are national security offences and the prosecutor calls it an "incident". It also dwells on armed police swooping on three vans and fears of a "secondary blitz" without telling readers that, as GB News reported, no explosive devices were found in the seized vans.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Serious

    “after terror cops probe RAF Fairford plot”

    Why this matters
    The headline calls the events at RAF Fairford a "plot" with no qualifier, and pairs it with "terror cops", so the existence of a terror plot is stated as the outlet's own fact.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes a terror plot against RAF Fairford has been established and that the two men were charged for it.
    The context
    The body itself calls it only a "suspected terror plot". The Crown Prosecution Service describes "a high-profile incident involving RAF Fairford". Neither man is charged with a terrorism offence. One charge is for assisting a foreign intelligence service. The other is for entering a prohibited place, over activity on 22 August, weeks before the September arrests. The Daily Express headline calls it an "incident", and the Daily Mail puts 'terror plot' in quotation marks.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Two men, 24, charged under National Security Act after police investigation into suspected RAF Fairford incident

  2. Leaves out what changes the picture

    Minor

    What is missing

    The Sun reports that armed police swooped on three vans near the base, that a wheeled robot worked near them, and that fears of a "secondary blitz" drove the withdrawal of US bombers. It never says that no explosive devices were found in the seized vans. Without that, a reader believes the vans held a bomb threat that police defused.

    Show where it belongs

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