Two men accused of carrying out “hostile” surveillance on London’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran have appeared in court.
Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, are accused of spying on the Israeli Embassy, a synagogue in London and other Jewish organisations.
A woman living in the UK, who has been accused of being a Mossad agent, is also alleged to have been targeted.
Both defendants are facing a charge of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 9 July and 15 August last year.
Prosecutor Louise Attrill said they “are suspected of assisting the Iranian intelligence service by conducting hostile surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Israeli and the Jewish community”.
Read more:
AI Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Kevin Spacey settles sexual assault cases
The alleged surveillance targets included the Israeli Embassy, the Israeli Consulate, London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue, a Jewish community centre, and the Community Security Trust – a charity that provides security advice.
Exclusive poll reveals what officers, public and victims think about UK policing
Retired police officer denies he’s a Chinese spy and says he’s ‘quite a boring guy’
Grieving widow prosecuted over dead husband’s £35 car tax bill
Delivery driver Shahsavani and Farasati appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
They did not enter a plea to a single charge under the National Security Act 2023 and were remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing at the Old Bailey on 17 April.
Shahsavani, wearing a blue puffa jacket, was seen blowing a kiss towards the public gallery as he was led away to the cells.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
He is alleged to have “tasked” Farasati “to conduct the surveillance activity against Israeli and Jewish sites and possible targets linked to the Iranian intelligence service”.
The pair are accused of “gathering information and undertaking reconnaissance of targets”, when they “knew or ought to have known their conduct was likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service”.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Shahsavani, a father-of-two of North Finchley, north London, is a dual Iranian and British national and has lived in the UK since 2009.
Farasati, of Colindale, north west London, who is a trained barber, is an Iranian national and moved to the UK as a 17-year-old in 2021.
