Home Secretary warns UK is facing ‘serious threats’ from Iran after bomb plot charges
The Tehran regime “target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement”, the Home Secretary said.
Iranians Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, who were arrested in Manchester on Sunday, September 20, have been charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said.
Maira Butt3 October 2026 15:30
Portugal prosecutors probe legality of US use of Lajes base in Iran war
Portuguese prosecutors have opened a probe into the legality of the centre-right government’s authorisation of the United States’ use of the Lajes Air Base in the Azores during the Iran conflict, according to a statement released on Saturday.
The inquiry followed a complaint by an opposition party.
A longstanding agreement with the US allows Washington to use the base without prior authorisation during peacetime, but requires Portugal to give approval once hostilities begin.
Portugal, unlike neighbouring Spain, authorised several US transit flights through the Lajes air base.
The decision drew criticism from left-wing opposition parties and triggered a political debate.
In a statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office said “the probe was opened following a complaint filed by members of the Left Bloc party,” without providing further details.
A U.S. military plane on the tarmac of Lajes air base in Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, February 21, 2026. (Reuters)
Maira Butt3 October 2026 15:00
In pictures: Smoke rises from the Aramco facility near Riyadh
Smoke rises from a fire at the Aramco refinery south of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 3, 2026. (Reuters)
Black smoke and flames rise from an oil facility in an industrial area in southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP)
Vehicles travel along a road as black smoke billows from a fire at an oil facility in an industrial area in southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP)
Maira Butt3 October 2026 14:30
Fire and smoke seen near Aramco facility in Riyadh, witness says
A large plume of smoke and fire was seen rising near the Aramco facility in Riyadh, a witness told Reuters on Saturday.
There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities and Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The fire comes amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure.
Last week, the Houthis said they had attacked Saudi’s Aramco facilities in Yanbu with missiles and drones.
At the time that Riyadh claimed it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Taif and the Yanbu area, but did not report damage to Aramco facilities.
Maira Butt3 October 2026 14:00
Iran executes detainee over January protests, judiciary says
Iran has executed a man who was detained during protests in January for allegedly firing at police, the judiciary said on Saturday.
Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi fired at least three shots at police on January 8 and was arrested two days later with a handgun in Shahrekord in southwestern Iran, the judiciary said.
It accused him of contacting people online to organise “anti-security” activities and seeking payment for a “mission”, without identifying who was purported to be behind it.
Iran blamed armed groups and operatives backed by the US and Israel for involvement in the protests and for some of the violence that broke out following unrest after 28 December.
Maira Butt3 October 2026 13:30
What is happening with diesel – and should we be worried?
Maira Butt3 October 2026 13:00
Saudi civil defense says shrapnel from intercepted ballistic missile in Asir injures one
Srapnel from an intercepted ballistic missile in Ahad Rafidah governorate in the Asir region injured one person, the Saudi Civil Defence said on Saturday, according to Saudi’s state news agency.
The missile was fired on Friday by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, it said.
Maira Butt3 October 2026 12:30
Watch: Trump now claims Operation Midnight Hammer was bombing ‘drug factories’ in Iran
Trump now claims Operation Midnight Hammer was bombing ‘drug factories’ in Iran
Maira Butt3 October 2026 12:00
In pictures: Vessels remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
An aerial view shows ships anchored off the coast of Khasab in Oman’s Musandam Governorate, near the Strait of Hormuz, on October 2, 2026. (AFP/Getty)
An aerial view shows the coastline of Khasab in Oman’s Musandam Governorate, near the Strait of Hormuz, on October 2, 2026. (AFP/Getty)
Ships are anchored off the coast of Khasab in Oman’s Musandam Governorate, near the Strait of Hormuz, on October 2, 2026. (AFP/Getty)
Maira Butt3 October 2026 11:30
Crude oil tanker struck by unknown projectile off Oman, UKMTO says
The master of a crude oil tanker has reported being struck by an unknown projectile 4 nautical miles east of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in the early hours of Saturday.
UKMTO said all crew were reported safe and no environmental impact was currently reported.
Maira Butt3 October 2026 11:00