Four men have been arrested on suspicion of espionage for Iran, targeting locations and individuals associated with the Jewish community in Britain.
The Metropolitan Police reported that the suspects—one Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian citizens—are being held for allegedly assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The arrests occurred shortly after 1 AM on Friday at addresses in Harrow, Watford, and Barnet. The men, aged 22, 40, 52, and 55, are currently in custody while detectives investigate claims that they were gathering intelligence on sites and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the UK.
The investigation reportedly began after a community member raised concerns with police about the suspects’ activities. Counter-terrorism officers are now looking into whether the alleged surveillance is connected to potential threats against Jewish organisations or individuals in the UK.
These arrests come amid increased security concerns across Europe due to escalating tensions involving Iran and its regional adversaries. Intelligence agencies have warned of the risk of hostile state activity targeting diaspora communities abroad.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, 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.”
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim North and East London, told the Press Association police patrols have been “stepped up.”
He said: “We all know Iran have cells in this country and has had cells here for a very long time – so this is no surprise.”
Rabbi Gluck added: “It certainly should reduce the concerns in the community.
“We have been aware for a long time of the danger of an attack from these cells, which there are a number of in this country, would exponentially increase in the situation we are in at the moment.”
The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the government’s failure to keep its promise to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following the arrests.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “The UK may not be acting against Iran but Iran is acting against us.
“It is incredible that the Iranian threat, long recognised by British Jews and those paying attention, like the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, is still not being taken seriously by the Government.
“The Government’s failure to keep its promise to proscribe the IRGC – the main instrument that the Islamic Republic uses to foment antisemitic violence worldwide – has sent the message that support for the brutal Iranian regime and its Jew-hating and West-hating ideology is perfectly acceptable in Britain.”
The statement added: “We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which underscores the reality in which the Jewish community lives.
“But the security services have to be lucky every time: the plotters only need to get lucky once.
“The Government must give the police the tools they need to tackle this peril and broadcast not weakness but the message that Britain stands against this menace.”
