Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15)

The Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), part of the Metropolitan Police Service, is the UK's lead police unit for terrorism investigations. Formed in October 2006 through the merger of the Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13) and Special Branch (SO12), SO15 has more than 1,500 officers and staff. It works in close partnership with MI5 and MI6 and leads investigations into state-sponsored assassination plots targeting individuals on UK soil.

SO15 led the investigation into the March 2024 stabbing of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his Wimbledon home, treating it as a potential state-directed attack. In May 2025 SO15 arrested and charged Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori under the National Security Act 2023 (UK) for conducting surveillance and reconnaissance against Iran International journalists on behalf of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence. This was the first prosecution of Iranian nationals under the National Security Act 2023. The three defendants face trial at the Woolwich Crown Court from 5 October 2026.

Since January 2022, SO15 and MI5 have responded to more than 20 Iran-backed plots presenting potentially lethal threats to individuals in the United Kingdom.