4 Iranians arrested in London over suspected spying on Jewish community

Four men have been arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Iran, the Metropolitan Police said. The suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, were detained early Friday at addresses across North London and Hertfordshire.

The arrests are connected to suspected surveillance of locations and individuals associated with the city’s Jewish community, Scotland Yard said. The men were taken into custody at addresses in Barnet and Watford as part of a pre-planned operation and are being held under the National Security Act.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said, “Today’s arrests are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.” She added that the public, and particularly the Jewish community, should remain vigilant and report any concerns.

In addition, six other men were arrested in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender, bringing the total number of men in custody to ten, the Met confirmed.

The arrests come amid heightened warnings from the Israeli National Security Council regarding threats to Israelis and Jewish communities abroad. The advisory highlighted increased hostile activity linked to Iranian security agencies and urged vigilance, especially in countries surrounding Iran and the Gulf region. Measures include discretion with Jewish or Israeli symbols, avoiding high-risk areas, and limiting personal information shared online.

Security officials stressed that proactive counterterrorism measures and public vigilance remain crucial to preventing potential attacks and safeguarding Jewish communities in the UK and worldwide.