Burnham reveals RAF Fairford ‘bomb’ plot was ‘almost certainly’ directed by Iran’s fanatical Revolutionary Guards

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16 comments 16 Next IRANIAN henchmen almost certainly directed the incident at RAF Fairford, the Prime Minister has revealed. Andy Burnham said the Government believes it is “highly likely” the incident was coordinated in Iran and directed by the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. An armed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military personnel flashes a Victory sign after marching in a military parade commemorating the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War Credit: Rex Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressing Parliament Credit: AFP Advertisement He vowed to hit criminal networks used by Tehran, cut off their cash and impose fresh sanctions.

The Gloucestershire base has been used by US bombers to carry out strikes against Iran . Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. The security scare began on September 27, when three vans were stopped near the airbase and five British men in their 20s were arrested.

Police said petrol was recovered from the vehicles, but no improvised explosive devices were found. Two more men were later arrested as counter-terror officers widened their investigation . All seven suspects have since been released on bail, with the investigation continuing. Iran has previously denied involvement. But updating MPs on their first day back after the conference recess, Mr Burnham pointed the finger at Iran’s IRGC. Advertisement Most read in The Sun PAEDO BOT Robot ‘sexually assaults girl, 16, on livestream’ while ‘under teen boys control' BUG OFF Horror as flight cancelled after bed bugs bite passengers on long-haul route PAW PATROL Tiny 12-inch predator captured on remote UK island after £150k 7-month search FATAL AMBUSH Student, 23, 'lay in wait to stab housemate 30 times to death then made pizza' He told MPs: “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 coordinated 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.” Advertisement Reform’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick blasted Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for shaking hands with the Iranian foreign minister last month.

He said: “Instead of shaking hands with regime goons, Burnham and Miliband need to wake up. “Iran’s criminal networks and illegal boat migrants doing the ayatollah’s bidding in our country must be deported en masse.” Roger Macmillan, security expert and former Head of Security at Iran International, also said: “The Prime Minister says it is almost certain that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directed an attack on British soil.

“Today’s sanctioning of two men who live in Tehran is welcome, but it will not stop these attacks in the future. Advertisement RECOMMENDED STORIES “If the government believes what it is saying, it must bring forward the law to ban the IRGC and take stronger steps to resource the Police and Security Services further to protect British subject. “Warning words are not enough.” 16 comments 16

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What we found (6)

The Sun puts 'bomb' in quotation marks in its headline though nobody in the article uses the word and its own body says no explosive devices were found. In its own voice it calls the IRGC 'fanatical', the people involved 'henchmen' and Iran's government 'the regime'. Iran's denial gets one short line, while the government, a Reform spokesman and a security expert fill the rest and close the piece unchallenged.

Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“RAF Fairford ‘bomb’ plot”
Why this matters
The Sun puts 'bomb' in quotation marks as if someone said it, and calls the incident a bomb plot.
The impression it gives
A reader believes a bomb plot against the base was uncovered and that officials described it that way.
The context
Nobody quoted in the article uses the word bomb. Burnham speaks only of 'the incident'. The article's own body says petrol was found but no explosive devices. The Guardian describes an ambiguous episode that has led to no charges.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“no improvised explosive devices were found”
- Elsewhere in the article“update the House regarding the incident at RAF Fairford”
- The Guardian reported“an ambiguous episode that, despite over a fortnight of police investigation, has yet to lead to anybody being charged”Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ‘almost certainly’ behind RAF Fairford threats, says Burnham (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“fanatical Revolutionary Guards”
Why this matters
The Sun calls the Revolutionary Guards 'fanatical' in its own voice in the headline.
The impression it gives
A reader takes 'fanatical' as an established description rather than the paper's verdict.
The context
Nothing in the article supports the word. Burnham's quoted words name the Revolutionary Guard without any such description.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard”
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“IRANIAN henchmen”
Why this matters
The Sun opens with 'IRANIAN henchmen' in its own voice, a word Burnham did not use.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the PM named Iranian agents who carried out the incident.
The context
Burnham spoke of an assessment that the incident was coordinated in Iran and directed by the IRGC. The suspects arrested were British men, and all have been released on bail.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“five British men in their 20s were arrested”
- Elsewhere in the article“All seven suspects have since been released on bail”
Show it in the article
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”
Why this matters
The Sun calls Iran's government 'the regime' in its own narration.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the paper's verdict word as a neutral description of Iran's government.
The context
The word is the outlet's own. Burnham's quoted words say 'Iran' and 'Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard', not 'regime'.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran”
Show it in the article
One side gets the space
Minor
“Iran has previously denied involvement.”
Why this matters
The Sun gives Iran's position one five-word sentence, with no detail of what Iran said or when.
The impression it gives
A reader sees the denial as a token line against several paragraphs of the government, Reform and a security expert.
The context
The government's assessment, Jenrick's attack and Macmillan's call for an IRGC ban fill the rest of the article and close it.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“Warning words are not enough.”
Show it in the article
Gives a contested claim the last word
Minor
“directed an attack on British soil”
Why this matters
The Sun lets Macmillan restate the PM's words as an 'attack on British soil' and closes the article on his view, with nothing set against it.
The impression it gives
A reader believes an attack took place and that the PM said so.
The context
Burnham spoke of an 'incident' he judged 'highly likely' to have been coordinated in Iran. The article itself says no explosive devices were found and all suspects are on bail.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“no improvised explosive devices were found”
- Elsewhere in the article“our assessment that it is highly likely”
Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

The GuardianIran’s Revolutionary Guards ‘almost certainly’ behind RAF Fairford threats, says Burnham (opens in a new tab)

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Everything we scored from The Sun

Burnham reveals RAF Fairford ‘bomb’ plot was ‘almost certainly’ directed by Iran’s fanatical Revolutionary Guards

Headline goes beyond the article

Uses a loaded word

Uses a loaded word

Uses a loaded word

One side gets the space

Gives a contested claim the last word

How other outlets reported it

More from The Sun