Trending Now - Two Arrested for Espionage Targeting London’s Jewish Community
WHO:
Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, Iranian-British national
Alireza Farasati, 22, Iranian citizen
Frank Ferguson, head of counterterrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service
Ken McCallum, head of Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service
Vicki Evans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing
WHAT:
The charges against Shahsavani and Farasati are under the National Security Act.
Frank Ferguson stated, “We have decided to prosecute two men for an offence under the National Security Act.”
Sir Mark Rowley, London’s police commissioner, reported that police have disrupted 20 plots in the last two years involving Iranian operatives.
Two men charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service
Charges relate to spying on the UK’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran
Both suspects are due to make their first court appearance on March 21st, 2026
Two other British-Iranian nationals arrested on March 6th, 2026, released without charge
More than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots disrupted in the previous 12 months
WHERE:
London, United Kingdom
North Finchley, north London (Shahsavani's residence)
Edgeware, north-west London (Farasati's residence)
Westminster Magistrates’ Court
WHEN:
Arrested on March 6th, 2026
Court appearance scheduled for March 21st, 2026
Charges relate to activities conducted between July 9th, 2025, and August 15th, 2025
WHY:
Charges are based on allegations of spying and reconnaissance activities targeting the Jewish community in the UK
HOW:
Rowley described recruitment efforts by Iran for hired gunmen as involving “ordinary criminals responding to adverts on the dark web.”
Engaging in activities such as gathering information and undertaking reconnaissance of targets
Investigation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police in collaboration with the CPS
(UPDATED March 19, 2026 23:11 UTC)
London's police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, announced that two men, Shahsavani and Farasati, are being prosecuted under the National Security Act, following the disruption of 20 plots involving Iranian operatives over the past two years. Rowley revealed that these recruitment efforts by Iran for hired gunmen often attract "ordinary criminals responding to adverts on the dark web." Frank Ferguson confirmed the decision to move forward with the charges during a press briefing.
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 11:16 UTC)
In a significant development, two men have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service, specifically related to spying on the UK’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran. Nematollah Shahsavani, a 40-year-old Iranian-British national, and 22-year-old Iranian citizen Alireza Farasati were arrested on March 6 and are set to make their first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 21. This case follows the disruption of over 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in the past year, with the investigation led by the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service.