Britain · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
British Police Release Five Men On Bail After Detaining Them Near RAF Fairford
Five men arrested near RAF Fairford on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. Police say five London-based suspects were arrested near RAF Fairford.
How US President Trump's claim relates to bail and investigation certainty.
4 of 6 outlets skipped it: iran Embassy says speculations fuel 'Iranophobia propaganda'.
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Reuters
“Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that the incident ‘might be’ connected to Iran”Read the original ↗
Some outlets foreground Trump’s certainty vs others highlight police uncertainty and ongoing inquiry.
Bail After RAF Fairford Arrests
British counter-terror police released five men on police bail after detaining them near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives-related offenses and planning a terrorist act. Counter Terrorism Policing said the five men were released after “extensive interviews,” and Laurence Taylor said the men “remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of enquiry.”
Police said the men were detained in possession of three vans close to RAF Fairford, and the investigation considered whether the incident had “a bearing on this incident” in the current geopolitical context. British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting thanked a farmer who told the BBC she called in the threat after coming across “the ‘hooded and masked’ men and vans” in the early hours of Sunday morning in Whelford, close to RAF Fairford.B
Multiple Lines, Iran Denial
Counter Terrorism Policing said officers were exploring “multiple lines of inquiry,” including whether proxies or individuals working on behalf of a foreign state were involved. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government would take “every step necessary” to protect the public, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the incident “a reminder of the threats our country faces.”
The Iranian embassy in London denied any link to the incident, describing the speculation as “fabricated speculations” aimed at fuelling “Iranophobia propaganda in the UK.” Vicki Evans said investigators were “in the early stages of an investigation,” while she also urged authorities to grant agencies “enough space to operate carefully and clearly.”
Evacuations, Cordons, and COBRA
Police evacuated about 85 homes in the nearby village of Whelford as a precaution, and the counter-terror investigation used a bomb disposal robot to examine three white vans. Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said the last 48 hours had thrown “our usually quiet and peaceful communities under the spotlight of the international media,” while police kept a cordon around the three vehicles.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting and urged people “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts,” as airspace restrictions put a five mile (8km) zone around the base. Donald Trump said the arrests were “fantastic” and praised cooperation with British authorities, while he also told reporters the suspects had been under surveillance “for a long time.”