Man and woman arrested in London on suspicion of working for Iranian intelligence

Two individuals, a 60-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, were arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence services. The pair were taken into custody under the National Security Act. The man was apprehended at a residence in northwest London, while the woman was arrested at another property in the northern part of the capital city.

The Metropolitan Police (Met) revealed that the arrests were made after prior searches conducted on June 24 in residential areas of north and northwest London. Additional searches continued following the initial arrests, resulting in the apprehension of the man and woman. A third property in northwest London was also searched on September 9, subsequent to the initial arrests.

Both suspects were subsequently released on bail with strict conditions, pending a hearing in late October. The Met clarified that these arrests are unrelated to recent attacks on Jewish and Iranian exile targets in London, or any activities associated with the High Holy Days period. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, stated that the arrests were not due to any immediate threat to the public.

She emphasized that if there is any suspicion of activity that could endanger the UK or its citizens, the police will take action. Iran's intelligence services are set to face trial in London next year, with Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22, accused of engaging in conduct that could assist a foreign intelligence agency, under the National Security Act 2023.

These charges stem from their alleged involvement in spying on the Israeli embassy and Jewish targets. Two other men detained during the same investigation were released without charges. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a group linked to the IRGC, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, have been designated as threats to the British state under new anti-terrorism measures.