Two men have been charged under the National Security Act 2023 following an investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on Tuesday 27 October 2026. Both men were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on the same day.

Different charges for the two men

Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, was charged with engaging in conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service. Nouman Essghir, 24, was charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom, in relation to activity on 22 August. Counter Terrorism Policing said the country Abdulkarim was suspected of assisting was Iran. The charges are allegations only: the men have not been tried, and the CPS reminded all concerned that proceedings are active and the men have the right to a fair trial, with nothing published that could prejudice the case.

What happened at the base

The investigation followed the arrest of five men outside RAF Fairford in the early hours of 27 September. The base had been used by US bombers in strikes on Iran, and the aircraft were withdrawn on security grounds shortly after those arrests, Reuters reported. Police have said they believe Iranian state involvement in a range of recent incidents is a growing concern, but the charges announced on Tuesday relate to the Fairford investigation specifically, and the CPS said it would continue to work with its partners as the complex investigation continues.

Sources: Crown Prosecution Service; Reuters, 27 October 2026.