World
Two Britons Charged Over RAF Fairford Incident Linked to Iran
Two British nationals, Nouman Essghir, 24, and Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, from London, were charged under the U.K.’s National Security Act for their alleged involvement in an incident at the Royal Air Force Fairford airbase on September 27, 2026. The charges were filed and the defendants are scheduled to appear in court this week. Abdulkarim was arrested for allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service, believed to be Iran, according to Laurence Taylor, Head of the U.K.’s National Counterterrorism Policing unit. Tehran has denied any involvement. On the day of the incident, five men approached the air base in three vans, prompting the evacuation of residents in the surrounding Gloucestershire area. Essghir was initially released on bail before being re‑arrested last week; Abdulkarim was arrested in the past week. Six additional men were arrested and released on bail as investigations continue. British authorities have linked Tehran to the incident, which led the United States to withdraw its 12 B‑1 bombers from RAF Fairford. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the apparent plot was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran has denied involvement, though it has previously stated that any base used to attack its territory is a legitimate target. The suspects were subsequently released on police bail, drawing criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. An Iranian‑British dual national was later arrested and released on police bail in early October. The U.S. removed its B‑1 bombers from the airbase following the incident. Published – October 27, 2026 04:06 pm IST
Frequently asked questions
Who were the two British nationals charged in the RAF Fairford incident?
Nouman Essghir, 24, and Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, from London.
What action did the United States take after the incident at RAF Fairford?
The United States withdrew its 12 B‑1 bombers from RAF Fairford.
Which foreign intelligence service is believed to have been involved in the incident?
The foreign intelligence service is believed to be Iran, according to Laurence Taylor, Head of the U.K.’s National Counterterrorism Policing unit.