Burnham: Highly likely IRGC behind RAF terror plot

The suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford was “almost certainly” the work of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Andy Burnham has said. The Prime Minister told the House of Commons that it was “highly likely” that the IRGC had been behind the incident last month. Counter-terrorism police are investigating Iran’s involvement in the alleged plot, after three suspicious vans were found near the military site in the early hours of Sept 27. The United States had used the base to strike Iran in recent months but withdrew its bombers after the incident. Mr Burnham said: “My right honourable friend, the Home Secretary, will update the House regarding the incident at RAF Fairford. “But I can confirm our assessment that it is highly likely to have been co-ordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. “We will not tolerate these threats on our soil. We will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams, and we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm.” In a joint statement, the US, UK, Australia, Canada and 24 European countries condemned Iran. They said the RAF Fairford incident “demonstrates the IRGC’s continued willingness to project hostile activity beyond its borders through covert networks and proxy actors”. “This comes soon after the recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and US interests, claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI),” the statement added. The nations said “any attempt by Iran to threaten, silence, intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce people on our territories through proxies or any other means is unacceptable”. Iran has denied playing any part in the alleged terror plot. In July, the IRGC warned that any British base used to strike Tehran would be a “legitimate target” and made veiled threats against the “British monarchy regime”. Iranian ambassador summoned Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said he had summoned, Ali Mousavi, Iran’s ambassador to Britain, to tell him that “Britain will not tolerate threats on our soil”. In the early hours of Sept 27, police were alerted to reports that three suspicious vans had been seen driving close to RAF Fairford. Counter-terror police later said no explosives had been recovered from the vehicles, but a quantity of petrol had been found. Police have made seven arrests since the incident, but no one has been charged, with all of those arrested released on bail. Five of the arrests were made at the scene, all of British nationals in their mid-20s, on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism. Donald Trump criticised the decision to bail them. In addition, a British-Iranian national was held on suspicion of terror offences in connection with the incident, and a 22-year-old British man was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Mr Burnham said last week that there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a part in the incident near the military base. The US withdrew its bomber jets from the site earlier this month after receiving reports of a planned Iranian drone attack on the base. Israel has given Britain intelligence relating to the suspected plot, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. The attempted attack was believed to have been ordered by the IRGC to target B-1 bombers and kill American pilots, according to American officials, who had also been briefed about the potential use of car bombs. Intelligence suggested that a branch of the IRGC had recruited British nationals to carry out what would have been a multi-pronged attack, including a diversion in a nearby village. The Government insisted that RAF Fairford was secure.