Four arrested in UK on suspicion of spying on Jewish community for Iran

Four men have been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of spying for Iran after allegedly carrying out surveillance on members and locations linked to the Jewish community.

The arrests were announced by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of an ongoing national security investigation under the National Security Act. Police said the investigation relates to suspected surveillance activities involving specific locations and individuals connected to the Jewish community.

Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London arrested one Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian nationals shortly after 1am during coordinated operations in Barnet and Harrow in north London, as well as in Watford.

According to police, two suspects aged 40 and 55 were arrested at addresses in the Barnet area, while a 52-year-old man was arrested in Watford and a 22-year-old man was detained in Harrow. Authorities also confirmed that searches were being carried out at several properties in Barnet, Watford and Wembley.

During the same operation, six additional men aged between 20 and 49 were arrested at a property in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender. One of them was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. All ten men remain in custody as the investigation continues.

Helen Flanagan, commander of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests were part of a long-running national security investigation. “Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it,” she said. “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.”

The arrests come amid heightened tensions following military operations by Israel and the United States against Iran, and subsequent retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.

Speaking earlier in parliament, Keir Starmer warned that Iran has directed threats toward dissidents and the Jewish community in Britain. “Over the last year alone, Iran-backed plots against people in the UK have been disrupted. We must be clear about the threat that Iran poses,” he said.

Ken McCallum, head of the UK’s domestic intelligence agency MI5, previously said his officers had tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-linked plots within a single year.

Shabana Mahmood thanked security agencies and police for protecting the public. “The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by today’s arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected,” she said in a post on X.

Reacting to the arrests, Priti Patel said the alleged surveillance operation highlighted what she described as antisemitism within Iran’s leadership. Jewish organisations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, thanked police for their response.

However, the Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the government for not formally banning Iran’s powerful security force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, arguing that stronger action is needed to address the threat.