Key facts
- Five British nationals aged 23-25 were arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
- The arrests followed the discovery of suspicious vans and masked men in the early hours of Sunday.
- The material found in the vans is understood not to have been viable explosives.
- UK defence secretary Wes Streeting suggested security services were aware of the situation.
- US secretary of state Marco Rubio claimed a foreign actor was involved, without providing evidence.
- Iran has been identified as a potential suspect, though its embassy has denied involvement.
UK authorities are investigating a suspected bomb plot near RAF Fairford after five British nationals were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. The men, aged 23-25, were detained near the US airbase in Gloucestershire after suspicious vans were spotted by a local farmer in the early hours of Sunday. The farmer reported seeing three vans parked in a "weird fan shape" and a group of hooded and masked men. She contacted police at 1:36 am, and armed officers arrived approximately 10 minutes later, arresting the five men 300 metres from the base's perimeter.
While the farmer believes her tip-off foiled the plot, defence secretary Wes Streeting suggested that UK security services were aware and that her account was only a "partial picture." US secretary of state Marco Rubio claimed a foreign actor was involved, though provided no evidence. Iran has been speculated as a potential suspect, given its previous statements considering RAF Fairford a "legitimate target," but the Iranian embassy has categorically rejected any involvement.
Counter-terror police confirmed that the three vehicles had been travelling overnight and were subject to extensive examination. It is now understood that the material found inside them was not viable explosives, but the investigation is ongoing. The speed of the police response has also raised questions. Laurence Taylor, head of UK National Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that the investigation is continuing and that the plot may have been the work of proxies or individuals acting on behalf of a foreign state.