UK arrests seven Iranians over suspected national security threats
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the threats “serious” and said the government is working with agencies to ensure safety. PHOTO: AP
British police have arrested eight men, including seven Iranian nationals, in connection with two separate investigations into suspected threats to national security, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Five individuals – four Iranians and one man whose nationality is being established – were detained by counterterrorism officers on Saturday in coordinated operations across London, Swindon, and Greater Manchester. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were linked to a suspected plot targeting a specific location. The four Iranians, aged between 29 and 46, were held under the Terrorism Act, while the fifth man was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
“This is a fast-moving investigation,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. “We are pursuing various lines of enquiry to establish motivation and assess whether there may be further risks to the public.”
In a separate operation the same day, three more Iranian nationals were arrested in London under the National Security Act 2023, which grants law enforcement enhanced powers to counter foreign interference and espionage. Police confirmed these arrests are unrelated to the earlier detentions.
The development comes amid growing concern over Iranian-linked activities in the UK. In 2023, MI5 reported uncovering at least 20 Iran-backed plots posing potentially lethal threats since 2022.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the current threats as “serious,” stressing that the government is working closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to safeguard the public.
Recent incidents have heightened tensions, including a stabbing attack last year on an Iran International journalist and the conviction of an Austrian national for conducting hostile surveillance on the outlet’s London headquarters. In February, a former British soldier was jailed for 14 years for spying on behalf of Iran.
Tehran has denied involvement in any UK-based plots and, in March, summoned the British ambassador to lodge a formal protest. In October, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the UK of harbouring “terrorist” groups.