British police have announced an investigation into whether other countries were involved in the alleged planning of a terrorist attack against a Royal Air Force (RAF) base, noting that the suspects are being released on bail, Reuters reports.
All five suspects are British citizens living in London, aged over 20; they were detained early on the morning of the 27th of September after a local farmer alerted police to three suspicious vans heading toward the RAF base. The Fairford base is also used by the US Air Force, serving as a stopover for American military aircraft en route to Iran. In July, the Iranian military stated that the base was a legitimate target.
Laurence Taylor, head of the British police counter-terrorism unit, stated that the men have been released under strict bail conditions. Speaking to reporters, Taylor emphasized that this does not mean the investigation has ended; it is ongoing and proceeding along multiple lines of inquiry. US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on the 28th of September that the incident could be linked to Iran, adding that he would not have released the detained men. US Senator Marco Rubio stated—without providing further details—that foreign agents of influence were involved. He told Fox News that the events that nearly unfolded in Great Britain over the weekend constituted a very serious situation and that foreign involvement was evident.
A source close to the investigation told Reuters that an Iran-related motive is considered the most likely, though Russian-orchestrated sabotage or an Islamist terrorist plot has not been ruled out. The Iranian Embassy in London has categorically denied Tehran’s involvement, condemning the speculation as baseless and malicious.
Taylor did not explicitly mention Iran but acknowledged significant interest in whether the current geopolitical climate is linked to the incident. He stated that
the matter is being examined from every possible angle,
including the possibility that the incident involved proxies or individuals acting—knowingly or unknowingly—on behalf of another state. Taylor reported that three white vans are undergoing a comprehensive search, with support provided by army and forensic experts, and a large police presence remains at the scene.
On the 27th of September, Trump stated that the suspects had intended to cause significant harm, and their role is being investigated by both British and American authorities. However, doubts have been raised in the British media regarding the quality of surveillance, given that the men managed to get so close to the base. A source linked to the investigation noted that, although security levels around the RAF base are high, the arrests were not led by intelligence agencies, suggesting that authorities were unaware of an elevated risk.
The farmer who alerted the police said she saw a group of men wearing hoods and face masks running across a field. She believes she saw up to ten individuals at the scene. British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting noted that she had witnessed only part of the incident but did not provide further details. He added that he is aware of the desire of Iran and its allies to cause harm, and that he knows Tehran hates democracy. Following the arrests at Fairford, the US Embassy issued a security alert, advising US citizens to exercise heightened caution and remain vigilant regarding their personal safety. Security levels have been raised at other US-used bases in the UK.
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