Man charged with National Security Act offence

A 39-year-old man has been charged with a National Security Act offence following a proactive investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).

Officers from CTP London arrested a man on Wednesday, 15 July in the Birmingham area on suspicion of an offence under section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023 – assisting a foreign intelligence service. The country to which the investigation relates is Iran.

The man was taken to a West Midlands police station, and officers carried out searches at addresses in the Birmingham and Liverpool areas. After further enquiries, the following charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service:

Vahid Aberi (06.02.1987) of Liverpool was charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section 3(1) and (9) of the National Security Act 2023.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London said: “We have seen a significant and sustained increase in the tempo of our work in national security investigations in recent years.

"This case is yet another example of where we’ve intervened to disrupt suspected activity linked to foreign intelligence services.

"While we can’t comment in detail around the allegations now that a man has been charged, I do want to reassure the public that we have not identified any direct threat to them nor any threat towards a community or individual in connection with this investigation.”

Aberi was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 17 July.