Key facts
- A 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man have been arrested in London.
- The arrests are on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service.
- The Metropolitan Police are investigating suspected National Security Act offenses.
- Searches were conducted at residential addresses in north and north-west London.
- The suspects have been released on bail until late October.
- The investigation is not connected to recent incidents targeting Jewish and Iranian communities in London.
A 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man were arrested in London on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police announced. The arrests are part of an investigation into suspected offenses under the National Security Act. The woman was apprehended at an address in north London, while the man was arrested in north-west London. These arrests followed searches conducted on June 24 at residential properties in the north and north-west London areas, which led to further inquiries and Wednesday's detentions. A third residential property in north-west London was also searched following the arrests. Both suspects have been released on bail under strict conditions until a date in late October. Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, emphasized that the investigation is not connected to recent incidents targeting Jewish and Iranian communities in London or events related to the upcoming High Holy Days. She assured the public that there is no believed imminent threat and highlighted an increase in work related to national security and state threats over the past year. The overall terrorism threat level remains at severe, and the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.