Two individuals, Nematollah Shahsavani, aged 40, and Alireza Farasati, aged 22, have been accused of espionage activities on behalf of Iran targeting locations and persons associated with the Jewish community. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) disclosed that the charges against Shahsavani, a dual citizen of Iran and Britain residing in north Finchley, and Farasati, an Iranian national living in Edgware, are related to engaging in activities that could aid a foreign intelligence service between July 9 and August 15 in London, under the National Security Act.
Following an inquiry by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London into alleged surveillance of Jewish community-related sites and individuals in the London region, Shahsavani and Farasati, among four men apprehended on March 6, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 19. The other two men detained were released without charges.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP, emphasized the severity of the charges under the National Security Act, highlighting the complexity of the investigation. Evans assured the public, particularly the Jewish community, of continuous efforts to safeguard their security and a commitment to pursuing those responsible for potential threats.
Concerns from the public can be reported to local law enforcement or through national reporting channels like www.gov.uk/ACT, according to Evans. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, confirmed the decision to prosecute Shahsavani and Farasati for offenses under the National Security Act, involving activities aiding a foreign intelligence service during the specified period. Ferguson clarified that the activities in question included information gathering and reconnaissance, with Iran being the relevant country in the charges.
Collaboration with the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police has been crucial in conducting the investigation, Ferguson noted, urging caution to avoid any reporting or online activity that could prejudice the ongoing legal proceedings.
