- British police arrested five men early Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford, an air base the U.S. has used to strike Iran.
- The suspects, all British men in their 20s from London, were released on bail Monday as police investigate possible foreign state involvement.
- Iran warned in July that bases used to attack it were legitimate targets, but it now denies any link to the arrests.
Early Sunday, British counterterrorism police arrested five men on suspicion of plotting a terrorist act near RAF Fairford, a U.S.-operated air base that has been used to launch strikes on Iran.
RAF Fairford has hosted U.S. aircraft since February of this year, including heavy bombers such as the B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer. The suspects’ motive remains unclear, and investigators are still examining any possible connection to the war in Iran.
British police said that the suspects are all British nationals from London and are in their early 20s. The suspects will not be identified by name until they are officially charged, and have been released on bail while counterterrorism police conduct the investigation.
“I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham posted on Sunday.
The morning of the suspected attack
A little before 1 a.m. Sunday morning, police received a call reporting three suspicious vehicles headed toward the base. Officers responded and arrested the men on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing a terrorist act, according to media accounts.
While officers told the press they received this first tip around 12:45 a.m., a local farmer said she alerted the police at 1:36 a.m. after noticing a group of masked, hooded men lingering near the treeline. Within minutes, the small village just outside RAF Fairford was overrun by armed police responding to the call.
A spokesperson for the 501st Combat Support Wing stationed at RAF Fairford told ABC News that the wing “appreciates the swift response and continued support of our local law enforcement partners” and that “the safety and security of our airmen, families and surrounding communities remains our highest priority.”
A military bomb disposal team and robot spent most of Sunday examining the vehicles for explosives, and 85 homes were evacuated from the surrounding area as a precaution.
The significance of the base
RAF Fairford is located in Gloucestershire, England, and has been a key forward operating location for U.S. bombers throughout several armed conflicts. The base was built in 1944 for D-Day troop transports, and became a crucial deterrent for U.S. Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.
The base also supported vital logistical and strike operations during the 1986 Libya airstrikes, the 1991 Gulf War, the 1999 Kosovo campaign, and the 2003 Iraq War.
RAF Fairford has once again proved itself critical with the start of the Iran war, and has launched heavy U.S. bomber sorties and defensive missions in support of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a statement warning the British government against giving the United States continued authorization to use the base for offensive missions.
“Any base used to launch attacks on Iranian territory is a legitimate target for our forces,” the statement said. “This makes London responsible for the developments resulting from this step.”
Despite July’s threat and increasing tensions throughout the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran denies any connection to the suspected attack on the base on Sunday, calling speculation regarding its involvement “unfounded” and “malicious.”
“The circulation of such fabricated speculations ... will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK,” the Iranian embassy in London posted Monday.
The U.S. and British response
On Sunday, President Donald Trump praised British officials for their quick response to the suspected attack.
“The arrest in the U.K. was fantastic,” Trump said while on his way to the Presidents Cup in Chicago, as reported by The Associated Press. “Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.”
According to Trump, the suspects aimed to do “big damage” to the base. Trump also said that the suspects were already under investigation and had been under surveillance for “a long time.”
The U.S. Embassy in London released a statement on Sunday encouraging U.S. citizens to exercise caution and review their personal security plans, reminding citizens that “UK authorities rate the threat of terrorism in the UK as severe.”
The British response focused on assuaging fears and managing speculations regarding Iran’s possible involvement in the suspected attack.
“I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe,” Burnham posted on X. “I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”