Two men charged with national security offences after RAF Fairford incident

British prosecutors charged two men under the National Security Act in connection with an incident near RAF Fairford, an airbase in England used by US forces, according to DW English.

Mohmed Abdulkarim, a British-Iranian dual national, is charged with conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, which police believe to be Iran, while Nouman Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK, The Guardian reported.

Essghir was initially arrested near the Gloucestershire base on September 27 and re-arrested on October 20. Abdulkarim was arrested more recently, Al Jazeera stated.

Following the incident, US bombers were withdrawn from RAF Fairford on security grounds. Police and army bomb-disposal experts conducted searches in the area, leading to evacuations of nearby residents, according to Al Jazeera.

Six other men remain on police bail as investigations continue. Counterterrorism police emphasized ongoing efforts to identify and respond to threats believed to be directed by the Iranian state.

The two charged men were due to appear in court on Tuesday, with prosecutors affirming their commitment to working closely with partners as the investigation progresses.