Greek National Charged in UK for Targeting Iran International Journalist, 13 Days After Arrest
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 29
Greek National Charged in UK for Targeting Iran International Journalist, 13 Days After Arrest
11 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 29
Ioannis Aidinidis, 46, was charged under the National Security Act with assisting an intelligence service believed to be Iran by targeting a UK-based journalist working for Iran International.
Counter Terrorism Policing London said the Greek national, who lives in Munich, had been held since his May 16 arrest in West Sussex and was due in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Commander Helen Flanagan said police were giving security advice and support to the journalist and related organisations, while assessing no wider threat to the public.
Iran International has faced repeated pressure in Britain: three people were charged in April over an attempted arson attack on its north-west London offices.
The broadcaster said last month it had been subjected to a campaign of transnational intimidation aimed at silencing independent journalism.
Can the UK truly protect dissident journalists when foreign agents are operating on its soil?
How can Western nations dismantle the criminal proxy networks Iran allegedly uses for its overseas attacks?
With US-Iran talks at a critical stage, could this spy charge derail diplomacy or provoke escalation?