Police have supposedly foiled an Iranian-linked terror plot targeting the Israeli embassy in London.
Counterterrorism officers reportedly arrested a group of Iranian men over the weekend following fears that an attack on the embassy in Kensington was imminent.
Five men were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of preparation of an act of terrorism in raids across Rochdale, Swindon, west London, Stockport and Manchester, The Times reports.
Four of the men, aged between 29 and 46, remain in custody, while a 24-year-old has been released on bail, according to the newspaper.
Pictures of the raid in Rochdale show three officers dressed in black and two other men dressed in camo gear escorting one of the suspects out of a property.
Three other Iranian men were also arrested under the National Security Act on the same day, although this was part of a separate operation.
They are now being questioned by police on suspicion of working on behalf of a foreign state, which The Times understands to be Iran.
Speaking earlier this week of the security operation, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the arrests ‘reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years’.
Police arrest a suspect allegedly involved in an Iranian-linked terror plot targeting the Israeli embassy in London
Pictures of a raid in Rochdale shows three officers dressed in black and two other men dressed in camo gear escorting a suspect out of a property
Undercover police officers also swooped on a suspected Iranian terrorist in Swindon on Saturday after posing as customers in a café
Asked about possible links to the Iranian state, she said: ‘These are major operations and the ongoing investigation is immensely important, and, of course, it involves Iranian nationals in both investigations.
‘But this reflects the complexity of the kinds of challenges to our national security we continue to face.’
Sir Ken McCallum, head of MI5, recently warned that Iran was plotting attacks at ‘an unprecedented pace and scale’, and said there was a risk that Iranian state aggression could ‘broaden’ due to conflict in the Middle East.
In October, Sir Ken warned: ‘We’ve seen plot after plot here.’ Iran uses criminal proxies, from international drug traffickers to ‘low-level crooks’, to carry out its ‘dirty work’ in the UK, he added.
Warning those who collaborate with hostile states, the spymaster said: ‘If you take money from Iran, Russia or any other state to carry out illegal acts in the UK you will bring the full weight of the national security apparatus down on you. It’s a choice you’ll regret.’
The dual counter-terrorism operations will send a powerful message to Iran, which is said to have backed 20 plots posing a potentially lethal threat to journalists and dissidents living in Britain since January 2022.
In the past year, MI5 investigations into hostile-state threats have risen by almost 50 per cent following a surge in assassination, kidnap, arson and sabotage plots.
Pictured are a group of Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers outside a home in Rochdale during another raid on Saturday
Pictured: Police forensic officers search a house on May 04, 2025 in Rochdale, England, following a counter terrorism raid
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) said the arrests on Saturday ‘reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counter-terrorism operations we have seen in recent years’
As well as being linked to alleged terror plots, Iranian forces have also tried to recruit spies in the British military.
Among them includes Daniel Khalife – a ‘hapless’ young soldier who was jailed in February for 14 years and three months for espionage.
The 23-year-old was caught spying for Iran before then fleeing prison by clinging to the bottom of a food truck – before again being caught by the authorities.
He claimed to have been on a one-man ‘double agent’ mission but was labelled an ‘attention seeker’ by a judge when he was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in London.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: ‘Any speculation around this investigation could have a negative impact as we work to keep the public safe from potential threats.
‘This is a fast-moving counter-terrorism investigation and there are significant operational reasons why we cannot provide further information at this time.
‘As soon as possible we will look to share further details and in the meantime we would ask the public to remain vigilant and contact us if you have any concerns.’
