Man charged with assisting Iranian intelligence service, Met Police says

A man has been charged with assisting Iran's intelligence service, police have said.

Vahid Aberi, 39, of Liverpool, was arrested on Wednesday in the Birmingham area by Counter Terrorism Police officers on suspicion of an offence under section 3 of the National Security Act.

Aberi was taken to a West Midlands police station, with officers carrying out searches at addresses in Liverpool and Birmingham.

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He was subsequently charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Police said the investigation relates to Iran.

Aberi was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said officers have not identified any specific threats in connection with the investigation.

"We have seen a significant and sustained increase in the tempo of our work in national security investigations in recent years," she said.

"This case is yet another example of where we've intervened to disrupt suspected activity linked to foreign intelligence services.

"While we can't comment in detail around the allegations now that a man has been charged, I do want to reassure the public that we have not identified any direct threat to them nor any threat towards a community or individual in connection with this investigation."

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