Two arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service

Two people have been arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police has said.

A 60-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were arrested at properties in London on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspected National Security Act (NSA) offences.

The suspects, who were both held on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, have been released on bail under strict conditions until late October, the Met said.

Police said the arrests were not “connected to any of the incidents or attacks” linked to Jewish and Iranian communities across London earlier this year.

The arrests took place following two searches carried out at properties in north and north-west London in June, the Met added.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said she knows “news of these arrests will come as a concern to some members of the public” but stressed she does “not believe there to be any imminent threat to the wider public”.

She added: “We’ve seen a marked increase in the tempo of our work linked to national security and state threats over the past year and this investigation is a continuation of that.

“As we’ve shown here, if we suspect any activity could threaten the safety of the UK or the public, then we will not hesitate to take action.”

She added the UK’s terror threat level was severe and called for people to be vigilant.