A 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national has been taken into custody in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. This development marks the sixth arrest related to the security incident that unfolded on Sunday near RAF Fairford, a site operated by the US Air Force. A heavy police presence could be seen near the base after a major incident was declared on Sunday.
Authorities have confirmed that a second individual, a 26-year-old UK national, is currently being questioned under caution, with investigators searching two properties as part of the ongoing inquiry. Counter-terrorism police are actively pursuing several lines of investigation, including the potential involvement of a foreign state. I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this investigation.
Vicki Evans, the force’s senior national coordinator, stated that the situation remains complex. She noted that officers are interrogating all possible angles, adding that the team is grateful for public cooperation during this sensitive phase of the operation.
The initial alert occurred in the early hours of Sunday, following reports of three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the airbase. Five men, all UK nationals in their twenties residing in Westminster and Camden, were originally arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses. While a quantity of petrol was recovered from vans parked near the facility, no explosive devices were discovered. The five men were released on bail Monday in a decision police described as strategic and experience-based. And searches of their homes were carried out, four live in Westminster and one in Camden.
The circumstances surrounding the arrival of these men remain under scrutiny. It is understood that one individual placed a 999 call himself, roughly an hour before a local farmer notified police about a large group of masked men operating near the vehicles. The group were aged between 23 and 25.
The incident has drawn high-level attention due to the base’s strategic importance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Monday that the hand of a foreign actor was evident in the breach. Prime Minister Andy Burnham followed this by citing strong indications of Iranian involvement, a claim that has been firmly rejected by officials in Tehran. And Tehran has strongly denied any involvement, he did not provide further details.
RAF Fairford has served as a critical forward operating location for the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, the base has facilitated flights for US bombers departing for the Middle East, following British authorization for the site to be utilized in defensive strikes against Iran.
