British police arrest UK-Iranian man over security incident at US airbase in England

British counter-terrorism police said the 27-year-old dual national was arrested in London as part of the investigation. A second British man, aged 26, was also questioned under caution, while detectives carried out searches at two properties.

British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of their investigation into a security incident near RAF Fairford, a military air base in western England that has been used by the US for operations against Iran.

The latest arrest comes days after five British men in their 20s were detained near the Gloucestershire base following an incident that triggered a major police response and raised concerns among Britain and its Western allies.

The five men were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives-related offences but were later released without charge on police bail. Investigators have since been examining whether a foreign state could have been involved, with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the incident could have an Iranian link.

Iran has rejected any involvement in the case, calling the accusations baseless. Tehran summoned the British ambassador on Thursday to protest over the allegations.

NEW ARREST IN LONDON

Police said the 27-year-old dual national was arrested in London as part of the investigation. A second British man, aged 26, was also questioned under caution, while detectives carried out searches at two properties.

Vicki Evans, Britain's Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the investigation into the events in Gloucestershire was "hugely complex".

"Our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of enquiry," Evans said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.

"As we've made clear, we're looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement."

HOW THE RAF FAIRFORD INCIDENT UNFOLDED

Police launched a major operation in the early hours of Sunday after receiving information about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford. One alert came from a local farmer, who became suspicious after seeing the men near the base in three vans.

The Times reported that one of the men had also contacted emergency services shortly before his arrest.

The incident prompted a substantial police operation around the air base, with officers detaining five men in their 20s on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. The men were subsequently released without charge but remain on police bail while the investigation continues.

Detectives have since confirmed that petrol was found in the vans used by the group. However, police said no improvised explosive device was discovered.

That distinction is significant because the initial response had been driven by concerns over a potential explosives-related threat.

WHY RAF AIRBASE IS SO STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT

RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire that has been used extensively by the US military. The base has been particularly significant during the recent conflict involving Iran. US bombers have used Fairford to launch missions against Iranian targets, making the facility an important part of Washington's military operations in the region.

That connection has heightened the sensitivity surrounding the incident.

British authorities are working closely with their US counterparts as investigators try to establish what happened and whether the activity near the base was connected to a wider operation.

UK PM Andy Burnham said Britain was maintaining close contact with the United States over the investigation.

US President Donald Trump has also commented on the arrests. He said he would not have released the men, despite the fact that British police later released the five suspects on stringent bail conditions. Trump previously said those involved had been planning "big damage".

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