A 25-year-old UK-Iranian dual national arrested over the RAF Fairford investigation has been released on bail after searches of two properties in Westminster ended. The case began after a major incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where a Rockwell B-1 Lancer-linked security response led to evacuations and arrests.
Police said the man was arrested in Westminster on Thursday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Five other men from London, aged between 23 and 25, were released on police bail on Monday after being held first on suspicion of explosives offences and then on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
RAF Fairford investigation
The investigation started last weekend after police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford. Dozens of homes were evacuated after the major incident was declared, and the local farmer who alerted police said he had seen a large group of masked men near the vehicles.
One of the men had dialled 999 about an hour before that alert, and the five men were arrested in the early hours of the morning after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards RAF Fairford. Police described the later bail decisions as an investigative step based on experience and strategy.
Cobra meeting in London
Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon after the incident. He later said there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a part in the incident.
Marco Rubio said on ' Hannity programme that, “What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It's one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.” Donald Trump, speaking at the Oval Office, said, “We know everything about them, we would not have released them,” and said he was surprised by the bail decision.
Iran and RAF Fairford
Tehran said through the Iranian embassy in London that it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” the claims linking Iran to the incident. In July, Iran said any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for its forces, while the UK had approved a US request to use RAF Fairford for defensive strikes on Iran.
RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force for decades, and in recent months US bombers have taken off from the base for the Middle East. Police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events is continuing.
