LONDON — Four people have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation relating to Iran, the Metropolitan Police has said.The investigation relates to the suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to Jewish communities in London, they said.Officers arrested one Iranian and three dual British/Iranian nationals, shortly after 1 am in Barnet and Harrow in north London, and Watford in Hertfordshire on Friday.The men were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.Two men, aged 40 and 55, were arrested at addresses in the Barnet area, along with a 52-year-old man in Watford and a 22-year-old man in Harrow, according to a police statement.Officers said searches were taking place in Barnet, Watford and another address in Wembley.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests were part of “a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it”.She added: “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.”In a statement, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood sought to reassure the public that the UK’s police and security services “are world leading” and would not 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.”Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain shortly after news broke of the arrests, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism globally and sadly, that is in effect in our own society as well.”Our intelligence services and counter-terrorism police have thwarted lots of action over the last few years,” he added. He also praised the work of the security services and police.The Community Security Trust, a charity which seeks to protect Britain’s Jewish community and monitors reports of antisemitism, thanked police in a statement and added: “Security is strong across the Jewish community.”The four men were detained under the National Security Act, which was introduced in 2023 to modernise counter spying laws, combating foreign interference.After Iran launched retaliatory strikes following the US-Israel attack at the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran’s actions against “partners across the region”.”Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and to the Jewish community,” Starmer added.”Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil.”Another six men, aged between 20 and 49, were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender. One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. All 10 men remain in custody.LONDON — Four people have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation relating to Iran, the Metropolitan Police has said.The investigation relates to the suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to Jewish communities in London, they said.Officers arrested one Iranian and three dual British/Iranian nationals, shortly after 1 am in Barnet and Harrow in north London, and Watford in Hertfordshire on Friday.The men were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.Two men, aged 40 and 55, were arrested at addresses in the Barnet area, along with a 52-year-old man in Watford and a 22-year-old man in Harrow, according to a police statement.Officers said searches were taking place in Barnet, Watford and another address in Wembley.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests were part of “a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it”.She added: “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.”In a statement, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood sought to reassure the public that the UK’s police and security services “are world leading” and would not 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.”Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain shortly after news broke of the arrests, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism globally and sadly, that is in effect in our own society as well.”Our intelligence services and counter-terrorism police have thwarted lots of action over the last few years,” he added. He also praised the work of the security services and police.The Community Security Trust, a charity which seeks to protect Britain’s Jewish community and monitors reports of antisemitism, thanked police in a statement and added: “Security is strong across the Jewish community.”The four men were detained under the National Security Act, which was introduced in 2023 to modernise counter spying laws, combating foreign interference.After Iran launched retaliatory strikes following the US-Israel attack at the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran’s actions against “partners across the region”.”Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and to the Jewish community,” Starmer added.”Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil.”Another six men, aged between 20 and 49, were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender. One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. All 10 men remain in custody.
Four arrested on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence service
