Police in the United Kingdom have arrested four people suspected of spying for Iran, following an investigation into alleged surveillance of sites and individuals in the Jewish community in London.
According to British authorities, one of the arrested is an Iranian national, while the other three have dual British and Iranian citizenship. The arrests were made at several addresses in the Barnet and Harrow areas of London, as well as in Watford, north of the British capital.
The operation was carried out by officers from the counter-terrorism unit, who also carried out searches at other properties in the Wembley and Barnet areas. According to police, the investigation is still ongoing and searches at several addresses linked to the suspects are continuing.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Helen Flanagan said the arrests were part of a long-running investigation aimed at uncovering potential espionage activities and threats to national security.
British authorities have warned for years about a potential threat from Iran to UK interests and certain communities in the country. Australia has also linked several anti-Semitic attacks in the past to alleged Tehran-backed actions.
According to the police, the arrested are aged 22, 40, 52 and 55. Meanwhile, six other people were arrested during the operation, suspected of aiding and abetting a criminal.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of those arrested, while investigations into the case continue.
