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UK-Iranian Man Arrested in RAF Fairford Incident
Confirmed
In Short: The incident began at about 12:45 a.m. when a local farmer reported three suspicious white vans near RAF Fairford. She called the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
Counter-terrorism police arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national on Thursday in Westminster, London, in connection with the investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The arrest deepens the ongoing investigation that began early Sunday morning when armed police detained five British men after receiving information about three suspicious vehicles near the airbase.
The 27-year-old was arrested under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act and was suspected of preparing terrorist acts. Police also searched two properties in Westminster as part of the operation. A second man, a 26-year-old British national, was questioned under caution but not arrested.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain sees 'strong indications' that Iran played a part in the incident, though he emphasized that the police investigation remains active and complex. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier stated that the incident 'clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,' without specifying the actor.
The incident began at about 12:45 a.m. when a local farmer reported three suspicious white vans near RAF Fairford. She called the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men. Police launched a massive operation in the early hours of September 27, due to a range of information, including the alert from the local farmer.
RAF Fairford is a British military airfield used extensively by the U.S. for operations against Iran. The base has been used by American bombers to launch missions against Iran in recent months. Five men, all British nationals in their 20s from London, were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses near the airbase.
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. The Times newspaper reported that one of the men had also called emergency services shortly before being arrested.
Iran has rejected any involvement in the case, calling the accusations baseless. Iranian officials have previously stated that any base, either in the Middle East or beyond, that hosts U.S. forces is a legitimate target for attacks.
What this adds
The arrest of the 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national adds to the complexity of the investigation, deepening the suspicion of foreign involvement in the incident near RAF Fairford.
Background
The incident began when a local farmer reported three suspicious white vans near the airbase. She called the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
What's confirmed
- Counter Terrorism Policing said the man was arrested Thursday afternoon in Westminster under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act in connection with the investigation into events near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
- Yesterday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain sees “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident.
- LONDON – British counterterrorism police arrested a 27-year-old dual British-Iranian national in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, a significant development in the investigation surrounding RAF Fairford, the British air base used by American bombers during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
- A second man, a 26-year-old British national, was questioned under caution but was not arrested.
What's still developing
- A B‑1B Lancer bomber arriving at Britain’s RAF Fairford airbase on Sept 29.
- In an incident which triggered a huge police response, raised alarm among Western allies, and remains largely unexplained, five British men in their 20s were arrested on Sept 27 on suspected terrorism and explosive offences near RAF Fairford in western England.