Two Iranian men have been charged by police over a spying plot ‘to target Jews in London‘.
Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, were charged under the National Security Act on Wednesday.
They were arrested on March 6 as part of an investigation by counter-terror police and will now appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday.
They were both charged with engaging in contact that is likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP said: ‘These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act, which have come about following what has been a very complex investigation.
‘Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock to gather and assess the evidence and we have liaised closely with colleagues in the CPS to reach this point.
‘We fully recognise that the public – and in particular the Jewish community – will be concerned but I hope this investigation reassures them that we will not hesitate to take action if we identify there may be a threat to their safety, and will be relentless in our pursuit of those who may be responsible.
‘Counter Terrorism Policing work closely with front line officers across the country to keep communities safe. Any concerns from the public can be shared with local policing teams or via national reporting tools such as www.gov.uk/ACT’
Counter-terrorism officers initially arrested four men with Iranian and dual British-Iranian citizenship but two have since been released without charge. Pictured: Police at the Watford property
At a property in Finchley, police were seen examining the undercarriage of a vehicle (pictured)
Two other men who were arrested on March 6 as part of the investigation have been released without charge.
Scotland Yard began a ‘long-running’ investigation after the ‘malign’ activities of the suspected Iranian cell aroused suspicion and a member of the Jewish community tipped off police.
The Mail understands that the cell had been under surveillance for months, but officers decided to accelerate their arrest plans due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Just hours earlier, Europol warned that the unfolding conflict in Iran will have ‘immediate repercussions’ with an increased threat of terrorism, violent extremism and cyber attacks in Europe.
The suspects have not been accused of any specific attack plot, but officers believe their actions were part of a longer-term plan by Tehran to target the Jewish community in London.
At the time plain clothed officers were spotted raiding on homes in Watford, after forcing the door open.
Meanwhile, detectives were also seen checking the engine and undercarriage of a silver-coloured Skoda on a road in Finchley, north London.
The Mail understands that the cell had been under surveillance for months, but officers decided to accelerate their arrest plans due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Pictured: A car is removed from an address in Finchley, north London
The suspects have not been accused of any specific attack plot, but officers believe their actions were part of a longer-term plan by Tehran to target the Jewish community in London. Pictured: Police at the property in Watford
Both operations were believed to be linked to a counter-terror police probe into suspected surveillance of Jews in London for Iran’s intelligence services.
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim North and East London, said police patrols have been ‘stepped up’ since the conflict in Iran began.
He said: ‘We all know Iran have cells in this country and has had cells here for a very long time – so this is no surprise.’
Speaking about the arrests earlier this month, Rabbi Gluck added: ‘It certainly should reduce the concerns in the community.
‘We have been aware for a long time of the danger of an attack from these cells, which there are a number of in this country, would exponentially increase in the situation we are in at the moment.’