A man from Liverpool has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service following an investigation by counter-terrorism officers, police have confirmed.
Vahid Aberi, aged 39, was arrested earlier this week in the Birmingham area and taken to a West Midlands police station. Officers subsequently carried out searches at addresses in both Birmingham and Liverpool as part of the operation conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
Charge and next court hearing
Aberi has been charged with an offence under the National Security Act 2023 — specifically section 3(1) and (9) — relating to assisting a foreign intelligence service. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
| Person | Age | Charge | Next hearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vahid Aberi | 39 | Assisting a foreign intelligence service (National Security Act 2023, s.3(1) & (9)) | Westminster Magistrates' Court, Friday |
Police comment and public reassurance
Counter Terrorism Policing London said the investigation concerned activity linked to Iran. In a statement, the force sought to reassure the public while giving few operational details owing to the ongoing proceedings.
"We have seen a significant and sustained increase in the tempo of our work in national security investigations in recent years. This case is yet another example of where we’ve intervened to disrupt suspected activity linked to foreign intelligence services. While we can’t comment in detail around the allegations now that a man has been charged, I do want to reassure the public that we have not identified any direct threat to them nor any threat towards a community or individual in connection with this investigation."
The comment was attributed to Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London. Her statement stresses the national context for the inquiry and the priority given to disrupting suspected activity rather than signalling an immediate local threat.
Local consequences and civic context
Searches in Liverpool form part of the wider investigation, but police have not provided further detail about the addresses examined or the nature of material recovered. For residents and institutions in the city, the case will raise questions about how national security investigations are conducted locally and what safeguards exist for affected communities and properties.
- Known facts: arrest in Birmingham area; searches in Birmingham and Liverpool; charge under the National Security Act 2023.
- Legal process: remanded in custody; appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
- Police position: no identified direct threat to the public or a specific community at this stage.
The National Security Act 2023 creates specific offences aimed at protecting UK interests from foreign intelligence activity; prosecutions under the legislation remain relatively rare and are treated with particular sensitivity because of implications for national security and civil liberties. Local residents seeking information should expect limited disclosures while proceedings continue and can rely on official channels for updates.
InfoRadar will continue to follow the case and any developments arising from court hearings or further statements by police. For anyone with information relevant to the investigation, Counter Terrorism Policing London advises contacting police directly through established reporting lines.
