An Austrian man arrested in London in February on suspicion of terrorism has been found guilty of espionage by the British Criminal Court. The man had gathered information at the headquarters of an Iranian opposition television station that could have been used for a terrorist attack.
The Graz resident with Chechen roots pleaded not guilty during the trial. Judge Richard Marks will announce the sentence before the jury verdict on Friday.
Channel targeted by “Iranian agents”
As reported, the 31-year-old is said to have made several video recordings of the exterior of an office building in the Chiswick Business Park in the Gunnersbury area. The building in west London is home to Iran International’s headquarters. The broadcaster was reportedly warned by British authorities last November that its journalists were being targeted by “Iranian agents”. At that time, security measures around the building were also tightened.
Prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer pointed out during the trial that the Iranian regime had declared the station a “terrorist organization” and that the building had already been explored before the Austrian’s crime. The head of London Police’s Counter-Terror Squad, Dominic Murphy, admitted that no evidence could be found about the man’s specific clients. “But we found enough evidence to show the jury that he was there to commit terror-related acts.”
Have you fallen into the trap of scammers?
The 31-year-old stated during the trial that a trap had been set for him. Scammers have cheated him and his father out of 20,000 euros. He was then told the fraudsters could be found at the company’s premises in West London. He did not know that this was the headquarters of “Iran International”. The jury did not believe the Austrian. He received the guilty verdict without emotion.
“Iran International” moved its television studios to the US after the arrest in February, citing the threats it faced in Britain. In September, the opposition television channel resumed operations in London.
Source: Krone
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