One of two men arrested in Britain allegedly planned to attack U.S. service members in the United Kingdom, according to prosecutors.
Junead Ahmed Khan, 24, and his uncle Shazib Ahmed Khan, 22, both face terrorism charges for allegedly planning to go to Syria to join the Islamic State group, Deborah Walsh, deputy head of counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said in a news release.
"It is further alleged that Junead Khan was planning a terrorist attack on US military personnel in the UK and he has been charged with an additional terrorism offence to reflect this," Walsh said in Tuesday's news release.
Currently, about 9,000 active-duty U.S. service members are stationed in the United Kingdom, according to the Defense Department.
Reached by phone, neither Walsh nor a spokesman for the prosecution service would specify which U.S. troops in Britain that Junead Khan was allegedly planning to attack. The two men will next appear in court Aug. 10.
The prosecution service could not confirm an article in a British newspaper that the planned attack prompted the 48th Fighter Wing to cancel this year's July 4 celebrations at Royal Air Force Feltwell.
A spokeswoman for the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath declined to say if the alleged terrorist plot for which Junead Khan was arrested prompted the cancellation of the July 4 celebrations.
"It would be inappropriate for us to make any connections to the cancellation of the 4th of July event while the investigation is still ongoing," 2nd Lt. Kellie Rizer said in an email to Air Force Times. "UK authorities have the lead on the investigation, and therefore questions of this nature should be directed to them."
The charges against both men alleged that they prepared to commit acts of terrorism in two time periods: between Aug. 1 2014, and May 10; and from May 10 and July 14. The charges do not include any references to plans to attack U.S. service members or military bases.
Junead Khan and Shazib Khan were arrested July 14, along with a third unnamed man, who was released without being charged on Monday, according to the Metropolitan Police in London.
