Iranian men planned violent attack in UK while spying on journalists and lawyer

Targets under surveillance

The people monitored included Mojtaba Pourmohsen and Kambiz Hosseini, journalists working for the London-based Persian broadcaster Iran International. The third named target was Jonathan Turner, a founder member of UK Lawyers for Israel.

The court found two men guilty of spying on the targets in conduct likely to assist Iran’s intelligence service. The prosecution said the surveillance formed part of a calculated operation against people critical of Iran’s regime.

Prosecutors describe attack plan

The prosecution said Sepahvand intended to carry out a physical attack against at least one of those monitored. Farhad Javadi Manesh was convicted of conduct likely to assist Iran’s intelligence service and, prosecutors said, helped plan the attack.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the defendants were stopped before an attack took place. Frank Ferguson, chief Crown prosecutor in the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, described the operation as a threat to UK security.

Third man cleared

Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was acquitted of the same charge. Jurors reached their decision after deliberating for 19 hours and nine minutes. Ferguson said the CPS works with Counter Terrorism Policing to prosecute people who threaten the country’s security. He also said the service was alert to changing threats.