Four men arrested suspected of spying for Iran and targeting Jews in London

One Iranian and three dual nationals held as detectives investigate whether alleged surveillance was linked to wish to carry out attacks

Armed police have arrested four men suspected of spying for Iran and allegedly targeting synagogues and Jews in London.

Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating why the alleged surveillance of Jewish locations and individuals was being carried out, and whether it was linked to a wish to carry out attacks on British soil.

Part of the investigation is looking at claims that in-person surveillance in London took place and whether it was directed from overseas. The operation by counter-terrorism police and MI5 had been going on for months.

The arrests of the four men – one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals – were made under the National Security Act and are the first of suspects alleged to be acting in Iran’s interests since the country was attacked by the US and Israel.

Three of the arrests were carried out in London and one in Hertfordshire. Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said the arrests meant police had kept “Britain safe from a potential threat”.

Police said those arrested were a 40-year-old man and a 55-year-old man who were detained at addresses in Barnet, north London. In Harrow, north-west London, a 22-year-old man was arrested, while a man aged 52 was arrested in Watford.

The arrests were carried out at 1am on Friday morning. Police said that at the address in Harrow, six men were also detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Those arrested were aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two men aged 20, one of whom was arrested for allegedly assaulting an officer.

Police said: “The investigation relates to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.”

Section 3 of the 2023 National Security Act outlaws any actions meant to “materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities”. Those arrested can be detained without charge for up to two weeks.

Police also said searches were being carried out at the addresses, as well as at another address in Barnet, and one in Wembley.

Detectives are looking primarily for electronic devices and any communications with others not detained, and which could prove or disprove their suspicions.

Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

“We understand the public may be concerned, in particular the Jewish community, and as always, I would ask them to remain vigilant, and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”

British security officials believe Iran wants to attack Jewish targets in the UK, believing that would represent a strike against the state of Israel.

Mahmood said: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they’ve taken today to keep Britain safe from a potential threat.

“The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by today’s arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected.

“I can reassure you that our police and security services are world-leading and won’t hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the UK. They will continue to use the full range of tools and powers available to them to keep this country safe. They have the government’s full support as they carry out their vital work.

“We must now give them the time and space to continue their investigations.”

The Community Safety Trust, which works to keep Jewish people in Britain safe, said: “Security is strong across the Jewish community. CST thanks Counter Terror Policing London and will not be commenting further at this time.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which underscores the reality in which the Jewish community lives. But the security services have to be lucky every time: the plotters only need to get lucky once.”

In October last year, MI5’s director general, Ken McCallum, said 20 plots linked to Iran had been disrupted on UK soil in the previous 12 months. Most of those were against Iranian dissident targets, with at least one linked to an Israeli target in Britain.

The 7 October attacks on Israel, and the subsequent attacks on Gaza, have led to a large increase in attacks on Jewish people in the UK. As well as Iranian proxies threatening Jewish people, officials also point to threats from Islamist terrorist groups such as Islamic State.

Last year a suspected IS-inspired attack on a Manchester synagogue left two people dead, as well as the attacker. All those arrested on Friday are still in custody.