Two men charged over RAF Fairford investigation

British prosecutors charged two men under the National Security Act in connection with an investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire air base used by the U.S. military. One man is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service; the other is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. The charges are allegations, not findings of guilt. The Crown Prosecution Service identified the men as Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24 and from London. Abdulkarim faces a charge of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom. The men were due to make their first appearances at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 27. Counter Terrorism Policing said it believes the foreign intelligence service Abdulkarim is accused of assisting was Iran. That is the police assessment, not a court finding that Iran directed the activity. The Iranian government has denied involvement, according to reporting on the case. The investigation remains active. The charges follow a police response near the base on September 27...