Two men charged under National Security Act after RAF Fairford incident
The CPS has charged Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, under the National Security Act 2023 after the 27 September incident at RAF Fairford. Police believe the foreign intelligence service involved is Iran's; Iran has denied involvement.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Crown Prosecution Service said on 27 October that two men, Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, have been charged under the National Security Act 2023 after an incident near RAF Fairford last month. The GuardianLC “The Crown Prosecution Service said Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, were both charged under the National Security Act 2023.” Read at The Guardian ↗ BBC NewsN “Two men have been charged with national security offences after an incident near RAF Fairford last month, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Abdulkarim is charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Essghir is charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK; both are British nationals from Westminster, London, and were due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Daily MailR “Both men are British nationals and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The GuardianLC “Abdulkarim, of London, has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, while Essghir, also of London, has been charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Right · 1Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said police believe the country Abdulkarim is accused of assisting is Iran, and that Essghir was charged under Section 4 of the Act over suspected activity on 22 August. Daily MailR “In this case, we believe that country to be Iran.”“was charged under Section 4 of the National Security Act 2023, for suspected activity on Saturday 22 August.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail reports the charge against Abdulkarim covers the period between 31 August and 28 September, and that he was charged under Section 3 of the Act after detectives interviewed a further man under caution following two re-arrests. Daily MailR “'in carrying out UK-related activities' between August 31 and September 28.”“Following the re-arrest of these individuals, detectives also interviewed a further man under caution.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Essghir was arrested at the scene in Gloucestershire on 27 September and re-arrested on 20 October. Evening StandardN “after initially being arrested at the scene near the Gloucestershire base on September 27 and then re-arrested on October 20” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Police were alerted in the early hours of 27 September to three suspicious vehicles near the Gloucestershire base, a major incident was declared and residents were evacuated. Daily MailR “Police descended on the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of September 27 after being alerted to the presence of three suspicious vehicles in the area.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Deutsche WelleN “Scores of residents were evacuated as police and military bomb-disposal experts searched the area for explosives.” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗
Centre · 3Seven people have been arrested during the inquiry. A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, first arrested on 1 October and re-arrested on 20 October, was released without charge but remains on bail, and five other men also remain on police bail. Evening StandardN “has been released without charge but remains on police bail after being arrested on October 1” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “Five other men arrested during the investigation remain on police bail.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Deutsche WelleN “Seven men have been arrested during the inquiry.” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗ Mixed · 2RAF Fairford had been used by US bombers for strikes on Iran, and the US withdrew them on security grounds shortly after the arrests. The Straits TimesRC “they were withdrawn on security grounds shortly after five British men were arrested outside the military base” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Deutsche WelleN “US bombers were withdrawn from Fairford on security grounds shortly after arrests immediately after the incident.” Read at Deutsche Welle ↗ Left · 3Counter-terrorism police had previously said Iranian state involvement was "highly likely", and Taylor said police have seen a range of recent incidents they believe were directed by the Iranian state. Iran has denied involvement; Metro reports its foreign minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the prime minister's accusation. The GuardianLC “it was “highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement” in the incident” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state” Read at Evening Standard ↗ MetroLC “denied it, saying the PM was” Read at Metro ↗
Left · 1Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said the investigation is complex and continues. The GuardianLC “We will continue to work closely with our partners as this complex investigation continues.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left7 outlets
- Framing
- Report the charges with police and CPS quotes; Mirror and Metro use 'terror plot' framing, while the Guardian (PA) is more cautious.
- Emphasis
- Charges, court appearance, and background on the incident and Iran's denial.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Guardian omits the dates of alleged activity.
- Charged language
- “terror plot”
- For example
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“Two men from London have been charged following a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.” — Metro
“Two men have been charged with national security offences after an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.” — The Guardian
Centre6 outlets
- Framing
- Factual accounts of charges; DW and The National add the US strikes on Iran context.
- Emphasis
- Charges, Iranian link, US bomber withdrawal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Several give no detail on the alleged activity dates.
- Charged language
- “plot to aid Iran”
- For example
-
“Iran has denied involvement, although it has previously said it considers bases used to attack its territory legitimate targets.” — Deutsche Welle
“Two Londoners have been charged over a plot to assist Iran’s intelligence service” — Evening Standard
Right5 outlets
- Framing
- Daily Mail leads with 'terror plot' and the Iranian link and gives the fullest police detail; Reuters copy in the Straits Times stresses the Iran link.
- Emphasis
- Iranian state direction, evacuations, police quotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on Iran's denial.
- Charged language
- “terror plot”
- For example
-
“Two men have been charged over an alleged 'terror plot' at RAF Fairford and are set to appear in court later.” — Daily Mail
“with police saying the two were suspected of assisting Iran.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, are charged under the National Security Act 2023.
- Police believe the foreign intelligence service involved is Iran's.
- The incident took place at RAF Fairford on 27 September, and US bombers were later withdrawn.
- A 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian man was released without charge but remains on bail.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether to call it a 'terror plot' or an 'incident'
- Left
- Mirror and Metro say 'terror plot'; the Guardian (PA) headlines 'incident' but says 'suspected terror plot' in its text.
- Centre
- BBC and Anadolu use 'incident'; The National and Evening Standard say 'terror plot' / 'plot to aid Iran'.
- Right
- Daily Mail and GB News use 'terror plot'; Daily Express headlines 'incident'.
-
Nationality of Abdulkarim
- Left
- Metro describes him as a British national.
- Centre
- DW describes 'Mohmed A.' as a British-Iranian dual national, whereas police describe the dual national as a separate 25-year-old released without charge.
- Right
- Daily Mail quotes police saying he is a British national.
-
Counter-terrorism police believe the foreign intelligence service Mohmed Abdulkarim is charged with assisting is Iran's.
Reported- Reports 7
- Metro, The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, Evening Standard, The National, Daily Mail, The Straits Times
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Five other men arrested in the investigation remain on police bail, and a 25-year-old UK-Iranian man was released without charge.
Reported- Reports 5
- Metro, The Guardian, Evening Standard, The National, Daily Mail
Iran place
Iran denies involvement; its foreign minister rejected the UK prime minister's accusation.
“denied it, saying the PM was” — Metro
“Iran has denied involvement” — Deutsche Welle
Mohmed Abdulkarim person
Charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service, which police believe to be Iran; due in court on 27 October.
“In this case, we believe that country to be Iran.” — Daily Mail
Nouman Essghir person
Charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK; arrested at the scene.
“charged with entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK” — Evening Standard
Left7 articles
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The GuardianLC · · via PA
Two men charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incident
Neutral Concise PA copy on charges and CPS statement.
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MetroLC ·
Two British men charged over ‘terror plot’ at RAF Fairford named
Mixed Charges plus political context on Iran's denial.
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Centre7 articles
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Two men charged over suspected RAF Fairford airbase terror plot
Neutral Short account of charges and the US bomber withdrawal.
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Neutral Explains charges and the US-Iran context.
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Show 3 moreShow fewer
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Two Londoners charged over RAF Fairford plot 'to aid Iran'
Neutral Police-quote-led account of charges.
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Gulf NewsN · · via AFP
Two men charged in UK over suspected plot against US-run RAF Fairford airbase
Right5 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident
Neutral Reuters copy stressing the Iran link and US bomber withdrawal.
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Two men are charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford 'terror plot'
Alarmist Detailed police-sourced account under a 'terror plot' label.
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- 27 Oct 09:09 First BBC NewsN Two men charged under National Security Act after RAF Fairford incident
- 27 Oct 09:12 +3m Al JazeeraLC UK prosecutors charge two after RAF Fairford incident
- 27 Oct 09:13 +4m GB NewsR Two men charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford investigation
- 27 Oct 09:17 +8m The GuardianLC Two men charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incident via PA
- 27 Oct 09:17 +8m Daily MirrorL Two charged over RAF Fairford suspected terror plot
- 27 Oct 09:20 +11m The NationalN Two men charged over suspected RAF Fairford airbase terror plot
- 27 Oct 09:20 +11m The Straits TimesRC Two men charged in UK with helping Iran over RAF Fairford incident via Reuters
- 27 Oct 09:28 +19m Daily ExpressR Two men charged with national security offences over RAF Fairford incident
- 27 Oct 09:32 +23m Deutsche WelleN Two men face UK national security charges following an incident near RAF Fairford, with police suspecting Iranian state involvement
- 27 Oct 09:34 +25m Daily MailR Two men are charged with National Security Act offences following RAF Fairford 'terror plot'
- 27 Oct 09:41 +32m Evening StandardN Two UK nationals charged over RAF Fairford ‘plot to aid Iran’ via PA
- 27 Oct 09:46 +37m MetroLC Two British men charged over ‘terror plot’ at RAF Fairford named
- 27 Oct 09:48 +39m Arab NewsRC Two charged in UK with state security offenses over air base plot: police via AFP
- 27 Oct 09:52 +43m Anadolu AgencyN 2 men charged with national security offenses over incident at UK air base used by US forces
- 27 Oct 09:52 +43m Evening StandardN Two Londoners charged over RAF Fairford plot 'to aid Iran'
- 27 Oct 10:13 +1h 4m Gulf NewsN Two men charged in UK over suspected plot against US-run RAF Fairford airbase via AFP
- 27 Oct 10:23 +1h 14m ABC News (Australia)LC Men charged with national security offences over incident at US base in England
- 27 Oct 10:36 +1h 27m The HinduLC Two men charged with U.K. national security offences over incident at U.S.-run military base in England via AP
- 27 Oct 10:51 +1h 42m CBS NewsLC U.K. charges 2 men linked to alleged terror plot against air base
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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