Two men deny charges over alleged surveillance of Jewish sites in London

Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati pleaded not guilty to an offence under Britain’s National Security Act.

The men appeared at the Old Bailey in London on October 9. Prosecutors allege that they gathered information and carried out surveillance in the summer of 2025 on the Israeli Embassy and Consulate, Bevis Marks Synagogue and other Jewish sites.

Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said another alleged target was an unnamed person considered of interest to Iranian intelligence. Shahsavani and Farasati were remanded in custody until their next hearing in February. The National reported that a three-week trial is scheduled to begin in April 2027.

The allegations remain before the courts. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in hostile activity in Britain.