Iran denies RAF Fairford terror plot involvement as Burnham points finger
Iran's foreign minister has rejected PM Andy Burnham's claim of Iranian involvement in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford. Five British men remain on bail under investigation.
Iran hits back at Burnham over RAF Fairford terror plot claims
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has publicly dismissed Andy Burnham's assertion that Tehran played a role in the suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, according to the Daily Express. Writing on X, Araghchi said the Prime Minister was "barking up the wrong tree."
Araghchi's post came in direct response to Burnham, who confirmed on Wednesday that there were "strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford." The Prime Minister described the case as "an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation."
Speaking to Sky News, Burnham said the matter had "consumed quite a considerable amount of my time here in Liverpool this week," adding that he had chaired a COBRA meeting on Monday before being in a position to make the claim publicly. He stated he would not hesitate to recall Parliament if the situation required it.
Five British men, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosive offences and terrorism near the Gloucestershire base in the early hours of Sunday morning. They were bailed under investigation on Monday and remain subject to what Laurence Taylor, head of UK counter-terrorism, described as "very strict conditions."
Taylor confirmed on Tuesday that a police response was triggered "due to a range of information that we received." Counter-terror officers found a quantity of petrol at the scene but no explosive devices were discovered in three vans that had prompted the initial security alert.
It is understood that one of the five arrested men called 999 himself in the early hours of Sunday. Armed police responded and detained the suspects near the base. A local farmer also dialled 999 approximately an hour later, having found the three vans blocking a road nearby, though officers were already on scene by that point.
Iran's London embassy has strongly denied any involvement in the events at RAF Fairford. Araghchi's X post quoted Burnham's statement directly before dismissing the allegation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the suspected plot "clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor" but declined to name any state. British investigators are understood to be examining possible Iranian involvement. Burnham was also asked about reported disappointment from the US President over the bail decision and said the authorities had the matter "under the strongest grip and the closest control."
RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire, has been made available to US forces following permission granted by the Starmer government to use British bases for what were described as "defensive" strikes against Tehran during the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Source: Daily Express