British teenagers 'recruited by Iranian agents' via social media to 'spy on UK'

These publicly accessible channels post recruitment messages in both English and Hebrew, seeking individuals willing to conduct filming or follow designated targets.

Automated chatbots handle initial contact, gathering details about prospective recruits' locations, motivations and capabilities, before arranging cryptocurrency payments designed to obscure the money trail.

Security analysts believe this approach mirrors tactics previously deployed in Israel, where individuals as young as 14 have faced charges for recording military installations in exchange for payment.

The investigation into Monday's arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green continues, with detectives examining whether Tehran employed criminal intermediaries to carry out the assault.

Two British men, aged 45 and 47, who were detained on Wednesday in connection with the case, have subsequently been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Authorities suspect the perpetrators may have been recruited through online channels, echoing methods used by Russia's Wagner Group in 2024 when they hired individuals to firebomb a Ukrainian-owned business in East London.

Police continue working to confirm whether a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which claimed responsibility, genuinely orchestrated the attack.

Former Israeli intelligence officer Or Horvitz stated yesterday that Iranian spy agencies are working intensively in both Britain and America on recruitment operations of this nature.

"This is part of a broader security strategy being developed in these countries.

"Because they find it difficult to operate directly, they often try to act indirectly, but they show little restraint on this issue," he said.

Mr Horvitz explained that Tehran has conducted numerous operations on British and American territory aimed at destabilising situations and, crucially, targeting Jewish and Israeli communities.

He added: "From what I understand, they have no real red lines when it comes to operating in the UK, which they view as one of the most attractive environments in which to operate."

Roger Macmillan, a military and security expert with extensive experience combating Iranian state-sponsored threats, confirmed that young people are actively engaging with these Tehran-linked Telegram accounts.

He told the Times: "The messages will be in English and in Hebrew because they are looking to recruit Jewish people or Israelis who are disaffected, as well as English-speaking people who need money."

"It's as blatant as that, it's straight out of a Russian playbook. They offer British teenagers money and say I'll give you £500 - it's too easy".

Mr Macmillan emphasised that those being recruited are not trained operatives, but vulnerable young people enticed by promises of quick cash.

MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum has previously cautioned that anyone accepting payment from Iran, Russia or other foreign states for illegal activities will face the full force of Britain's national security apparatus.

In a bid to crackdown on the exposure of young people to harm online, Labour is set to launch a trial of social media bans, time limits, and curfews on 300 young people in a test run for wider restrictions on the internet.

The six-week pilot scheme, run by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will feature children aged 13 to 17 trying out different restrictions on social media use, and judge the impact on their schoolwork, sleep and family life.

The DSIT's consultation on a potential Australia-style social media ban is set to conclude on May 26, having already received nearly 30,000 responses from parents and children.