Iran · updated 53m ago · 2 min read
British Police Arrest Dual UK-Iranian Over Incident Near RAF Fairford Air Base
Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses. UK Prime Minister said there are strong indications Iran was involved in the incident.
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6 of 8 outlets skipped it: a dual UK/Iranian man was later arrested in London.
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Arrest Near RAF Fairford
British Counter Terrorism police arrested a 27-year-old dual UK/Iranian national in central London on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with an incident near the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in southwest England. Gloucestershire Police received a call about "three suspicious vehicles" travelling towards RAF Fairford at 00:45 BST on Sunday, and police later said they found no explosives in the vehicles parked near the base.
Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing for the Metropolitan Police, said the investigation is "hugely complex" and that specialist teams were interrogating multiple lines of enquiry. Investigators also recovered a "quantity of petrol" from the vehicles, while a second man, 26, was questioned under caution as the case continued.
Iran Denies, London Pushes
Andy Burnham told the BBC that there were "strong indications" that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, while Iran denied any involvement and hit back at the allegations. Abbas Araghchi told British authorities they were "barking up the wrong tree," and Iran’s embassy in London said attempts to link Iran to the individuals arrested near the airbase were "fabricated speculations".
Counter Terrorism Policing said investigators were exploring "multiple lines of enquiry" including whether proxies or individuals were working on behalf of a foreign state. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that it was clear a "foreign actor" had been involved, while the UK police statement did not provide further public explanations.
What Comes Next
British police said five men arrested near Whelford were released on police bail, and Counter Terrorism Policing stressed that the five men remain under investigation and must adhere to strict bail conditions. The BBC reported that a 400m (1,312ft) cordon was in place around vehicles examined by a bomb disposal team, and aerial pictures showed a remote-controlled robot approaching stationary white vans.
The US military said it was "working closely" with its UK counterparts to monitor the situation, minimise impacts and ensure the safety of US personnel, their families, and the local community. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned in July that bases used to launch attacks on Iran could be treated as legitimate targets, keeping the diplomatic and security stakes tied to RAF Fairford’s role.