Three Iranians Accused in UK of Plotting Attacks on Journalists
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Three Iranian nationals living in London have been charged in the UK with espionage and plotting violent attacks against journalists. The accused, Mostafa Spahband, Farhad Mansh, and Shapur Nouri, allegedly targeted Iran International and lawyer Jonathan Turner. Spahband is accused of planning the attack, while Mansh and Nouri allegedly conducted surveillance. The defendants deny the charges, with one claiming fear and others expected to deny knowledge of spying for Iran. The trial is currently underway.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Three Iranian nationals in London face espionage charges for allegedly plotting attacks on journalists.
- The accused, Mostafa Spahband, Farhad Mansh, and Shapur Nouri, allegedly targeted Iran International and lawyer Jonathan Turner.
- Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones stated the group assisted a foreign intelligence service.
- One defendant claims fear as a motive, while the prosecution cites financial gain and annulment of a past conviction.
- The accused arrived in the UK between 2016 and 2022 as asylum seekers.
- The trial is ongoing, with two defendants expected to claim they didn't know they were spying for Iran.
Three Iranian nationals residing in London are facing trial in the United Kingdom on charges of espionage, with the alleged intent of carrying out violent attacks against journalists. The accused, identified as Mostafa Spahband, 41, Farhad Mansh, 46, and Shapur Nouri, 57, are charged with violations of the national security act, including "assisting a foreign intelligence service." Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones stated that the primary target of the surveillance was Iran International, a satellite channel critical of Tehran, as well as lawyer Jonathan Turner, a co-founder of the group Lawyers in the UK for Israel. According to the indictment, Spahband was slated to carry out the actual attack, while Mansh and Nouri conducted surveillance and gathered photographic intelligence around the homes of the targets, including journalist Mojtaba Forouhassan.
In court, Spahband reportedly did not deny his involvement but claimed he acted out of fear. The prosecution rejected this, asserting he acted for financial gain and to have a prior conviction for theft in Iran overturned. Mansh and Nouri are expected to argue they were unaware they were spying for Iran. All three defendants, who deny all charges against them, arrived in the UK between 2016 and 2022 via small boats and a truck, and were residing in the country as asylum seekers. The trial is ongoing.
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