Understand
Two men deny Iran-backed surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites in London
Overview
Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati have pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to charges of carrying out hostile reconnaissance on Jewish and Israeli locations in London on behalf of Iran's intelligence service between July and August last year.
Key points
- Nematollah Shahsavani, 41, and Alireza Farasati, 22, denied charges under the National Security Act 2023.
- Prosecutors allege Shahsavani directed Farasati to gather intelligence on targets including the Israeli embassy, a college, and Britain's oldest synagogue.
- Farasati's electronic devices were confiscated by police when he was stopped on 14 August last year.
- A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 12 February, with a full trial set to begin on 26 April next year.