2025-05-04T23:22:00Z

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In a concerning development, British authorities are currently probing two distinct plots involving predominantly Iranian nationals residing in the United Kingdom. A senior official briefed on the situation has indicated that these plots are likely state-sponsored, raising alarms about potential international implications.

Over the weekend, law enforcement agencies arrested a total of eight individuals across London and various regions throughout the U.K. Notably, seven of those arrested are reported to be Iranian nationals. The police have confirmed that three of these men were detained under Section 27 of the U.K.'s 2023 National Security Act. This section empowers law enforcement to take action against individuals suspected of colluding with foreign entities.

While officials have emphasized that the two plots are separate, the senior official has suggested that there may be a common entity orchestrating both operations, which is now a focus of the ongoing investigation. As of now, a request for comment from the CIA and the U.S. National Intelligence Director's office has gone unanswered.

Information regarding one of the plots began to surface early on Sunday. According to the Metropolitan Police, five men were arrested in connection with what they described as “an alleged terror plot in the U.K.” Four of these men are of Iranian descent, while details surrounding the fifth individual—his age and nationality—are still being verified. The arrested individuals, aged between 29 and 46, were apprehended in various locations including Swindon, London, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester, under the Terrorism Act on accusations of preparing for a terrorist act. All detainees are currently in police custody, and the motive behind their alleged actions remains unclear.

Authorities are conducting a “fast-moving” investigation into the first potential attack. Counterterrorism police have indicated that this group was targeting a specific site, although they have refrained from disclosing more details about the intended target.

At this juncture, information about the second alleged attack plan is not publicly available. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has characterized the two incidents as “major operations” and underscored the significance of the ongoing investigation. She stated that these operations reflect “some of the biggest counter-state threat and counterterrorism operations that we have seen in recent years,” as reported in a statement broadcasted by Sky News.

Historically, Iranian nationals have been implicated in acts targeting U.K.-based Iranian dissidents. One notable instance involved the independent television network Iran International, which broadcasts in Farsi and has critiqued the Iranian government. This network moved its operations from London to the United States following threats against its journalists believed to be state-backed by Iran, as reported by the BBC in 2023.

An investigation by ITV News into that plot revealed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had aimed to assassinate two journalists from Iran International. They purportedly contracted a people smuggler for $200,000 to carry out the attack, which was ultimately thwarted when the smuggler turned out to be a “double agent” for an unnamed Western intelligence agency.

In another troubling incident from March 2024, a journalist associated with Iran International was stabbed outside his home in London. Two Romanian males faced charges in connection with this attack, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those reporting on Iranian state affairs.

The U.K. government has responded to 20 plots believed to be backed by Iran since the beginning of 2022, as reported by U.K. Minister of State Dan Jarvis. These plots pose “potentially lethal threats” to both British citizens and UK residents, according to MI5 officials. Jarvis has noted that Iran tends to target dissidents as well as media organizations and journalists who report on the regime's violent oppression.

Moreover, Jarvis has indicated that there is a possibility Iran could also be planning attacks against Jewish or Israeli targets, referencing a persistent pattern of violence against Jewish and Israeli individuals orchestrated by Iranian intelligence.

“It is clear that these plots represent a deliberate strategy by the Iranian regime to suppress criticism through intimidation and fear,” Jarvis stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for continued vigilance in the face of such threats.