Five granted bail in relation to suspected RAF base plot

Five British men arrested over a potential terror plot near an RAF airbase are being released on police bail, the UK's head of Counter Terrorism Policing has said.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "I can confirm that following extensive interviews and inquiries the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.

"To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over.

"They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others.

"They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry."

The suspects, who were arrested near the RAF Fairford base used by the US, are all British nationals aged in their 20s and from London, police said earlier.

They were were arrested in Whelford, Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sunday, initially on suspicion of explosives offences and later terrorism.

A villager in Whelford dialled 999 after she saw three vans and a group of masked men near the base, and dozens of homes had to be evacuated as bomb disposal teams were called in.

Counter-terrorism police are understood to be investigating if any potential plot could be linked to Iran, which has used proxies to carry out crimes on British soil in the past.

Mr Taylor said he knows there is "significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident".

"At counter-terrorism policing, we are working within this context every single day, and at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.

"We are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state."

CTP Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said earlier: "This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.

"I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I'd like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety.

"I'd also like to thank the emergency services for their response, including the armed officers who first attended the scene, not knowing what they may face.

"I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly."

A police cordon remains in place in Whelford and will be reviewed later today, CTP said.

Iran denies involvement

Iran "categorically rejects" it had any involvement in the suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot, its UK embassy said.

The embassy condemned what it described as "unfounded and malicious speculations" about a potential link between Tehran and the arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of the base in Gloucestershire.

In a statement this afternoon, it said it "reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures" in response to "misleading" narratives.

"The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base.

"The circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives."

'Astonishing'

A resident dialled 999 after spotting the vehicles "blocking the road" before seeing a "large group of hooded and 'balaclava'd' men".

The Whelford resident said "they would have seen the bright headlights" and "they probably thought we were the police (and) panicked".

She told PA: "It would appear that by doing so I just derailed whatever they were planning."

"I think it's absolutely astonishing."

Officers arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after she raised the alarm, she said.

Residents had at the time understood the base was on lockdown because of a "terror threat", the woman added.

"A plucky amateur shouldn't be spotting an unusual bit of activity at 1am when the air base is on high alert," she said.

A pensioner living nearby similarly described an apparent increase in Fairford's security in recent weeks, saying that heavy tractor-like vehicles had been parked and concrete walls laid behind the gates.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said it received reports of the suspicious vehicles travelling to the base at about 12.45am on Sunday.

Officers arrested the men under the Explosives Act and they were later further arrested under suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.

Suspects detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 can be held for up to 14 days without charge, compared to the 24-hour limit for standard arrests without an extension application.

Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot spending hours inspecting three white vans, two of which had open rear doors. Large black barrels appeared to be scattered around.

A 400-metre cordon was erected and 85 evacuated households were unable to return home overnight. Cotswold District Council was seeking accommodation for some.

The Army's ordnance disposal unit was still examining the vehicles in the cordon by the evening, Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, from Bedfordshire Constabulary, told a press conference.

Agencies "believe the matter to be contained", she later added.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the incident was "deeply concerning" and the Government would "always take every step necessary" to protect people.

Investigators will now be working to analyse any devices seized from those arrested to establish details of any plot and any potential motivation.

The arrests come amid heightened concerns around the threat from hostile states to the UK, with Russia and Iran among those that have used proxies to commit crimes on their behalf on British soil.

In March, officials said the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states including Iran increased 50% in the six months to December 2025.

That same month, after then prime minister Keir Starmer granted permission for "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford and the US started using British bases for "specific defensive operations".

Separately, a spate of antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in London this year were claimed by a group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (Hayi), which is thought to be backed by Iran.

Support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hayi was banned in July by Mr Starmer.

Under the state threat powers, anyone supporting or assisting the groups will face a maximum punishment of 14 years in prison, but ministers will need parliamentary approval first.

The Fairford incident also took place against the backdrop of ongoing war between the US and Iran.

RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk confirmed it was on Charlie alert, which is the second-highest threat level that can be issued by the US Department of Defence.

The confirmation to PA came amid reports that RAF Fairford has been raised to the highest threat level, Delta.

At a fringe event at the Labour Party conference, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was asked if there was any Iranian involvement in the suspected plot.

He said: "I'm not going to comment on the underlying motivations of those who've been arrested today, or indeed the, sort of, the genesis of their activity, I think it's far too early to comment or speculate, and it would be irresponsible of me to do so."

A spokesperson for the USAF said its personnel based at RAF Fairford "remain vigilant", but "for operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures".

They said its 501st Combat Support Wing and UK counterparts "will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families".

The 501st is "the only combat support wing in the USAF" and operates from 10 bases including Fairford, according to its website.

Mr Trump praised the UK response and suggested authorities already had the suspects under investigation, despite others' claims to the contrary.

Using the American term for military sites - fort - to refer to RAF Fairford, which hosts USAF heavy bombers, he told reporters in the US: "They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great."

He added: "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you."