Four arrested on suspicion of spying on Jewish community for Iran

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of spying on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community for Iran.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, have been taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The force said the men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet shortly after 1am on Friday.

It is understood a member of the Jewish community had tipped off the Met about the arrested individuals.

Counter-terrorism officers were seen entering an address in Brookdene Avenue, Watford, on Friday, with the property eventually cordoned off with police tape.

The front door had been forced open and police vehicles were parked on the street.

In Finchley, police wearing blue gloves were checking the engine and the undercarriage of a Skoda Fabia in Sandringham Gardens.

A number of officers entered a semi-detached property on the quiet street, with a cordon temporarily set up to stop through traffic.

The Met did not confirm or deny the properties were linked to the arrests when asked by the Press Association.

The Met said the arrests follow the alleged surveillance of locations and individuals in the Jewish community in London.

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim North and East London, told PA police patrols have been “stepped up” since the conflict in Iran began.

He said: “We all know Iran have cells in this country and has had cells here for a very long time – so this is no surprise.”

Speaking about the arrests, Rabbi Gluck added: “It certainly should reduce the concerns in the community.

“We have been aware for a long time of the danger of an attack from these cells, which there are a number of in this country, would exponentially increase in the situation we are in at the moment.”

Searches are ongoing at the addresses where the suspects were arrested by counter-terrorism officers, as well as additional properties in Wembley and Barnet.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said: “Security is strong across the Jewish community.

“CST thanks Counter Terror Policing London and will not be commenting further at this time.”

The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the Government’s “failure to keep its promise” to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following the arrests.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The UK may not be acting against Iran but Iran is acting against us.

“It is incredible that the Iranian threat, long recognised by British Jews and those paying attention, like the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, is still not being taken seriously by the Government.

The statement added: “We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which underscores the reality in which the Jewish community lives.

“But the security services have to be lucky every time: the plotters only need to get lucky once.

“The Government must give the police the tools they need to tackle this peril and broadcast not weakness but the message that Britain stands against this menace.”

The European Union listed the IRGC as a terror group in January, amid a deadly crackdown on protesters in the country.

This week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the UK Government to introduce emergency legislation to proscribe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, arguing it is “more desperate and dangerous than ever”.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday in the Commons that the UK is “working 24/7 on dealing with any threats to this country”.

He added: “We don’t comment on proscription, but we have made the case that there needs to be legislation to deal with state-backed terrorist groups, and we’re looking into that.”

Then-home secretary Yvette Cooper announced in May 2025 that powers would be created to proscribe state-backed groups if they are deemed to pose a threat to Britain after recommendations by terror watchdog Jonathan Hall KC.