Donald Trump makes 'blow them up' Iran threat as RAF Fairford probe continues
Donald Trump has threatened to 'blow up' Iran as the country's involvement in a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford remains under investigation. Andy Burnham revealed there are "strong indications" Iran participated in the incident near RAF Fairford while the UK collaborates closely with US authorities who have the situation under "the strongest grip". The Prime Minister's remarks followed Donald Trump's criticism of the decision to release the suspects.
Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the military base over the weekend before being bailed under investigation on Monday. The Gloucestershire site has been utilised in recent months by American bombers after Sir Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British bases for "defensive" strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war. Counter-terror police have confirmed a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were discovered in the vans that triggered the security alert near the airbase.
When questioned about the case in a series of broadcast interviews on Wednesday, Mr Burnham stated: "There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but it remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation." Mr Trump appeared unaware of Mr Burnham's comments when asked at a White House event if the US planned any response against Tehran. The president said: "Did they say Iran played a role?"
Left out here: Drops what it reported before
The article never reports Iran's denial. The Daily Star itself reported, less than an hour before this piece, that Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Burnham he was "barking up the wrong tree". Other outlets reported that Iran's London embassy fiercely denied any involvement. Without this, a reader believes Iran has not contested the accusation.
How we know
- Daily Star wrote earlier“Iran's foreign minister has fired back at Andy Burnham, accusing him of "barking up the wrong tree"”Iran tells Andy Burnham 'you're barking up the wrong tree' over RAF Fairford terror plot (opens in a new tab)
- Daily Mail reported“Iran's London embassy has fiercely denied any involvement in the incident”Andy Burnham says there are 'strong indications' Iran is involved in RAF Fairford 'terror plot' (opens in a new tab)
He continued: "We're studying it. We're studying it very hard. Iran's got a lot of problems right now. "They have no money. Their currency is dead. Their economy is dead. Their military is gone. They have no military. They have no navy. They have no air force. And their leaders are fighting for control. I think their leaders are fighting very strongly for control, but control of what? But we'll have an answer to that very quickly." Mr Trump also once again cast doubt on the release of the suspects and stated he was "trying to figure out if that's for real", before adding: "Maybe they did it for a reason."
In response to a separate question regarding dealing with the Iranian regime he has repeatedly labelled as "crazy", the president said: "Maybe you blow them up. We have to make that decision. We blow them up, make a deal, but the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or the other." Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a television interview that the suspected plot "clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor", but declined to provide further details.
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