Two individuals have been accused of conducting surveillance on sites and persons associated with the Jewish community on behalf of Iran. Nematollah Shahsavani, aged 40, and Alireza Farasati, aged 22, are facing charges of “engaging in contact likely to aid a foreign intelligence service” between July 9, 2025, and August 15, 2025, in London, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS specified that these charges are in violation of the National Security Act and are connected to alleged actions on behalf of Iran.
Shahsavani, a British and Iranian citizen residing in north Finchley, and Farasati, an Iranian national from Edgware, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 19.
These charges stem from an inquiry by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London into purported surveillance activities targeting locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London region. The investigation led to the apprehension of four men, including Shahsavani and Farasati, on March 6. The other two men have been released without charges since then.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP, emphasized the gravity of the charges under the National Security Act, highlighting the complexity of the investigation and the continuous efforts to gather evidence. Evans assured the public, particularly the Jewish community, of the relentless pursuit of those posing a threat to safety.
Concerned individuals are encouraged to report any issues to local policing units or through national reporting platforms such as www.gov.uk/ACT.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, announced the prosecution of Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati for offenses under the National Security Act. The charges pertain to engaging in activities likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July 9, 2025, and August 15, 2025. The collaboration with the Counter Terrorism Command at the Metropolitan Police has been integral to the investigation.
Ferguson stressed the importance of respecting the active criminal proceedings and ensuring no dissemination of information that could prejudice the case.
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