London, United Kingdom. British police have charged a Greek national with assisting a foreign intelligence service, believed to be Iran’s, in connection with the targeting of a journalist working for the London-based broadcaster Iran International. Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, who lives in Munich, Germany, was arrested on Saturday and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Charge under National Security Act
Counter-terrorism police said Aidinidis was charged under Britain’s National Security Act. Police said the allegations were believed to relate to Iran and to the targeting of a British-based journalist at Iran International, an outlet critical of Tehran’s government. Officers said they did not believe there was any wider threat to the public.
Police response
“We know this may cause concern for many people here in the UK,” said Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London, adding that the worry would be felt particularly by those working in Persian-language media. She said police were continuing to work closely with organisations and individuals to provide advice and support on their safety and security, including the specific individual and organisation linked to the investigation.
Related incidents
The charge is the latest in a series of incidents linked to Iran International. In April, three people were charged over an attempted arson attack on premises linked to the outlet in northwest London, though the fire caused no damage or injuries.
British police have previously said they were examining whether there were any Iranian links to that incident and to a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in the capital. A pro-Iranian group calling itself Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) claimed responsibility for most of the incidents.
British authorities had earlier investigated a serious knife attack on one of the channel’s journalists near his London home.