RAF Fairford terrorism suspect called police before arrest, UK media report
One of five men arrested near RAF Fairford allegedly called 999 almost an hour before a local farmer raised the alarm. No explosives were found, but the investigation continues.
RAF Fairford suspect dialled 999 before terror arrest, deepening mystery
One of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford in western England on suspicion of terrorism-related offences called the police himself shortly before the arrests were made, CNN reports, citing multiple British media outlets including The Times, the Guardian and the BBC.
The five suspects — British nationals aged between 23 and 25 from the London area — were detained in the early hours of Sunday near the Royal Air Force base, which has been used by US B-1 bombers flying missions against Iran. They were initially held on suspicion of explosive offences before terrorism charges were added.
According to The Times and the BBC, the call to 999 — Britain's emergency number — came almost an hour before a local female farmer alerted authorities after spotting a group of masked men beside three white vans near the base. The Times reported that police were already at the scene when that second call from the resident came in.
Investigators are examining whether the suspect who dialled 999 got cold feet, or whether placing the call was part of a deliberate plan.
Police have since confirmed that no explosives were found in the three vehicles. Laurence Taylor, a senior counter-terrorism officer, told reporters: "No improvised explosive devices were found in vehicles used by the men, but a quantity of petrol was recovered." Taylor said a police response had been activated "due to a range of information received, including a call from a member of the public about several vehicles acting suspiciously close to RAF Fairford."
The five men were released on bail on Monday. Taylor described the decision as an "investigative decision," pushing back against criticism from US President Donald Trump, who said: "I wouldn't have done that." Police are expected to wind down their on-site operations at Fairford by Wednesday, though the wider investigation remains open.
The arrests triggered a significant security response and prompted concern on both sides of the Atlantic. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the suspected plot "clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor," while Trump suggested the suspects "might be" connected to Iran. Iran has strongly denied any involvement.
The UK government has not yet publicly confirmed any foreign link, though Taylor indicated earlier that police were examining the possibility. Trump has also suggested that authorities had the group under surveillance before the arrests — a claim British authorities have not confirmed.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)