LONDON, OCT 1: British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts as investigators widen their probe into a serious security incident near RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire used by US forces for operations in the Middle East.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, which began after police were alerted early Sunday to three suspicious vehicles and a group of men near the airbase. Five London-based British men in their 20s were subsequently arrested and questioned on suspicion of explosives-related and terrorism offences. They have since been released on police bail while the investigation continues.
The newly arrested suspect was detained in Westminster, London, on Thursday under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Counter Terrorism Policing also confirmed that officers conducted searches at two properties in London as part of the continuing investigation.
A 26-year-old British national has also been questioned under caution in connection with the investigation, although police have not arrested him. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the movements of the individuals involved and seeking to establish whether the suspects were acting independently or as part of a wider network.
The investigation was launched after suspicious activity was reported near RAF Fairford in the early hours of September 27. Counter Terrorism Policing said three vehicles appeared to be travelling towards the airbase, prompting a major security response involving armed officers, specialist counter-terrorism personnel and bomb-disposal teams.
The initial response resulted in the evacuation of residents in the surrounding area as authorities assessed the vehicles and materials found inside them. Subsequent examinations found petrol in the vehicles but no confirmed explosives, according to reporting on the investigation.
The five men arrested during the initial operation were later released on police bail under stringent conditions. Their release did not bring the investigation to an end, with counter-terrorism authorities continuing to examine their possible connections and the purpose behind their presence near the airbase.
A particularly sensitive dimension of the investigation is the possibility of foreign-state involvement. Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said investigators were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility of involvement by a foreign state. Authorities have not publicly established who, if anyone, was behind the suspected plot.
The probe comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Western countries, with RAF Fairford having been used by the United States for military operations, including operations against Iranian targets. British authorities are examining whether that wider geopolitical context has any connection to the incident.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” of Iranian involvement, while Iran has denied any role in the incident. The competing claims remain part of an investigation that British authorities have described as complex and ongoing.
Police have stressed that investigators are keeping all possible explanations open and are not limiting the inquiry to a single theory. Specialist teams are examining evidence gathered from the scene, the vehicles, the suspects and the London searches as they work to establish the full chain of events.
With the latest arrest, the investigation has expanded from the immediate incident near RAF Fairford to a broader examination of possible links between individuals in London and the events in Gloucestershire. No final determination has been made regarding the alleged plot, its intended objective or any foreign-state connection, and the investigation remains active.
