Four men have been arrested by British counter-terror police on suspicion of spying on Jewish communities in the UK for Iran, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Covert Operation Foiled in London and Hertfordshire
The arrests happened just after 1am on Friday across north London and Hertfordshire, targeting addresses in Barnet, Harrow, Watford, and Wembley. Officers detained one Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian citizens.
- Two men, aged 40 and 55, were arrested in Barnet
- A 52-year-old man was arrested in Watford
- A 22-year-old suspect was held in Harrow
Police said these suspects are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service, linked to the National Security Act. As part of the ongoing investigation, searches are underway at multiple locations.
Additional Arrests and Community Safety
Alongside these four, six more men aged between 20 and 49 were arrested in Harrow on suspicion of assisting offenders. One of them faces an additional charge of assaulting a police officer. All ten suspects remain in custody.
“Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation to disrupt malign activity,” said Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London. “We urge the public, especially the Jewish community, to stay vigilant and report any concerns.”
Wider Context: Iran’s Threat in the UK
The arrests come amid escalating tensions between Iran and Western nations. The US and Israel continue airstrikes on Iranian targets, while Tehran responds with drone strikes across the Middle East. The UK provides defensive support but is not involved in offensive operations.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament: “Iran poses a clear threat. Over the past year, Iran-backed plots against people in the UK have been disrupted.”
Earlier, MI5’s Director General Ken McCallum revealed that intelligence services tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed terror plots within a year.
Political and Community Response
- Deputy PM David Lammy called Iran “the biggest state sponsor of terrorism globally,” praising security forces for keeping Britain safe.
- Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel condemned the alleged spying, calling out “the foul antisemitism at the heart of the fundamentalist regime in Tehran.”
- Jewish groups expressed gratitude to police but criticised the government’s failure to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accusing ministers of underestimating the threat.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the government’s inaction has “sent the message that support for the brutal Iranian regime and its Jew-hating ideology is acceptable in Britain.”
