Five London men arrested near RAF Fairford air base on terror suspicion
Five British nationals in their 20s were arrested near RAF Fairford after suspicious vehicles were spotted moving toward the US-used base. All five have since been released on bail pending further investigation.
Five London men held over suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford, released on bail
Five British nationals were arrested Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station in the Cotswolds used by the United States Air Force to facilitate strikes on Iran, counterterrorism officials confirmed Monday. All five men, from London and aged in their early to mid-20s, have since been released on police bail.
According to nbcnews.com, the arrests followed the sighting of three suspicious vehicles moving toward the base, located approximately 90 minutes west of London. Dozens of homes in the surrounding area were evacuated in the early morning hours, and a large emergency services presence was deployed around the installation, disrupting what is normally a quiet rural community.
Farmer's tip triggered response
A local farmer told BBC News on Monday that she spotted a "large group of hooded and masked men" in the early hours of Sunday. "When they saw me they ran ahead of me — some into the field and some towards the neighboring village," she said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I then realized that something highly unusual was taking place."
Defence Minister Wes Streeting, asked on Sky News whether authorities had prior knowledge of a threat or were alerted only after the farmer's call, said the member of the public "did the right thing" and acted quickly. He declined to elaborate further on the intelligence picture.
Released on bail, investigation ongoing
Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said Monday that following "extensive interviews and inquiries," the five suspects had been released on bail. "That does not mean that the investigation is over," Taylor stressed. "They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others."
Taylor also noted there was "significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident," adding that investigators were "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a meeting of the government's COBRA emergency committee Monday to ensure authorities had "the full picture" of the incident. Burnham also urged the public not to speculate while the facts were being established.
Grainy images circulate online
A photograph began circulating on social media Sunday morning appearing to show five shirtless men seated on the ground, apparently handcuffed, flanked by armed officers. NBC News geolocated the image to an area near RAF Fairford, though the original source of the photo could not be determined.
A second image showing three white vans near the base also spread online. UK fuel delivery company Fuel2U said a version of its logo appeared on one of the vehicles, but stated in a written statement that neither the vehicle nor any of those involved had any connection to the company. "We are extremely concerned that our company's name has been used without our knowledge or permission," the statement read.
Iran denies involvement
The arrests prompted immediate speculation about a possible Iranian connection, given the geopolitical context surrounding RAF Fairford. Iran's embassy in London issued a statement on X categorically rejecting any link. "The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to the arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base," the statement said.
In March, then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted the United States permission to use British bases for "specific and limited defensive" operations against Iran. In July, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Britain through Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency that "any base used to facilitate aggression against Iranian territory is considered a legitimate target," explicitly citing bomber flights departing from Fairford.
Tristan Wilkinson, a member of the local council, told NBC News that a threat to the base attributed to Iran earlier this summer had already raised the community's alert level and prompted increased security patrols in the area.
Trump: 'We caught them'
US President Donald Trump commented on the arrests Sunday, telling reporters: "We know all about them, and you'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them." In a separate statement, Trump described the operation as an "amazing job" and said those detained "were looking to do big damage to our fort." He added that cooperation with British authorities had gone well and that the suspects had been under surveillance "for a long time."
Following the conclusion of the security operation, police confirmed that evacuated residents could return to their homes. NBC News observed residents driving through a cordon to re-enter the village of Whelford near the base.
Source: Google News MT