British police have released on bail five men, all London-based Britons in their mid-20s, who were arrested near the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, southwest England. The arrests were made on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws. The men were held after authorities received reports of three "suspicious" white vans near the airbase, which has been used by the United States.
The investigation is being led by UK counter-terror police, who are considering the possibility that the incident may be linked to a foreign state. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the five men would be subject to "stringent" bail conditions. The police are examining the incident from every possible angle, including the possibility that the men may have been working on behalf of a foreign state or proxies.
US President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the release of the men, saying he wouldn't have done it. Trump also alleged that the suspects were looking to cause significant damage to the US fort. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the incident "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor", without providing further details.
Iran has denied any involvement in the incident, with its embassy in London categorically rejecting and strongly condemning "unfounded and malicious speculations" that Tehran was involved. The incident comes after Britain gave the United States permission in March to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source.
The airbase has seen increased activity and security in recent months, with US bombers and other planes taking off and landing from the base. Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen a significant increase in security measures.
Authorities evacuated around 85 households from the village early on Sunday, and they were allowed to return home the next day. A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase reported seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men, and claimed that the police had "dropped the ball" on the threat.
UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting said the farmer only had a "partial picture" of the incident. The police are continuing their investigation, with the support of military assets and forensic experts. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, with Tehran warning London against allowing its bases to be used by the US in operations against Iran.
Key points
- The five men released on bail were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws.
- Iran has denied any involvement in the incident, with its embassy in London rejecting "unfounded and malicious speculations" that Tehran was involved.
- The incident comes amid increased tensions between Iran and the United States, with Britain allowing the US to use the RAF Fairford base for operations against Iran.
