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UK Charges Greek National With Aiding Iran-Linked Intelligence Service
A 46-year-old Greek man living in Germany was charged under the UK National Security Act with assisting an intelligence service believed to be Iran by targeting a journalist at Iran International.
May 29, 11:39 AM·1m read2 sources
Espionage threatRoutine policing
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A Greek national has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service linked to Iran by targeting a UK-based journalist working for Iran International. Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, who lives in Munich, was charged on Friday under the National Security Act after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday and has been in custody since his arrest in West Sussex on 16 May.
The Metropolitan Police said the allegations relate to the targeting of a UK-based journalist working for Iran International. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said the force is providing advice and security support to a number of organisations and individuals, including the specific individual and organisation linked to this investigation.
"We know this may cause concern for many people here in the UK, and particularly those working in Persian-language media," Commander Helen Flanagan said. Police said there was not believed to be a wider threat to the public.
April, three people were charged over an attempted arson attack on the offices of Iran International in north-west London. An Islamist group with possible links to Iran claimed responsibility for the attack, though the claim has not been substantiated.
In a statement last month, Iran International said it had been subject to a campaign of transnational intimidation aimed at silencing independent journalism.
