Warrants of further detention obtained for suspects in National Security investigation

Warrants of further detention have been obtained in relation to three men who were arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.

The three men [A, C and D] were arrested on Friday, 6 March on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023. The country to which the investigation relates is Iran.

A warrant for their further detention was granted on Thursday, 12 March at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, meaning they can be detained in police custody up until Friday 20 March.

The investigation, which is being led by detectives from CTP London, relates to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP said: “This investigation continues at pace with a number of lines of enquiry being pursued by our detectives. The warrants of further detention for these three men will allow us to continue the investigation, while mitigating any potential risk to the public as we do so.

“This has been a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

“We fully recognise that the public – and in particular the Jewish community – may be concerned but I also hope the action we have taken reassures them that we will not hesitate to take action if we think there may be a threat to their safety. As ever, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us.”

If you see or hear anything that doesn’t look or feel right, then to report it to police – either by calling police, in confidence, on 0800 789 321 or via www.gov.uk/ACT.

Another men [B] who was also arrested as part of this investigation have since been released from police custody without charge.

The four men arrested under the National Security Act were:

[A] a 40-year-old man arrested at an address in the Barnet area.
[B] a 55 year-old man arrested at an address in the Barnet area.
[C] a 52-year-old man arrested at an address in Watford.
[D] a 22-year-old man arrested at an address in Harrow.

As part of the investigation 11 searches have been carried out across the London and Watford areas. A number of items have been seized, including various digital devices, which are in the process of being examined by specialist officers.

Six other men [E-J], aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two aged 20, were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender. One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. All six have been released on bail to dates in May and June pending further enquiries.