Key facts
- A suspected plot against a British airbase used by US forces was thwarted when one of the arrested men called emergency services, The Times reported.
- Five British men in their 20s were arrested near RAF Fairford in west England.
- The arrested men were released on bail.
- Investigators are considering whether the tip-off was due to cold feet or part of a plan.
- An Iranian-linked motive is considered the most likely, though Russian sabotage or an Islamist plot are also possibilities.
- Police found petrol in the vans used by the men but no improvised explosive device.
A suspected plot targeting a British airbase used by US forces was reportedly thwarted when one of the five arrested men called emergency services, according to The Times newspaper. The five British men, all in their 20s and residing in London, were arrested on Sunday near RAF Fairford in west England on suspicion of terrorism and explosive offenses. They have since been released on bail.