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UK Police Rearrest Two Suspected of Assisting Iranian Intelligence
· Confirmed
In Short: UK police have rearrested two men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and CBS News.
UK police have rearrested two men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and CBS News. The arrests follow an incident at RAF Fairford, a US-run airbase in England, last month.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Nightly (Australia) reported that British counterterrorism police declared a major incident after a member of the public reported seeing three suspicious vans near RAF Fairford. Police officers set up roadblocks and guarded the area around the base.
According to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Timesofisrael (Israel), Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, stated that the investigation is 'hugely complex' and involves 'many lines of enquiry.' Taylor added, 'We consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement.'
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Nightly (Australia), said the apparent plot was 'almost certainly' directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and NewsCord reported that Ken McCallum, the UK’s domestic intelligence spy chief, warned that Iran and Russia are expanding attacks against military bases in the UK, and that the RAF Fairford incident is not unique.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Nightly (Australia) noted that the Iranian Embassy in London denied involvement, stating that the regime 'categorically rejects and strongly condemns' attempts to link Iran to the incident.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and CBS News reported that the two men were initially arrested outside RAF Fairford and in London, respectively, and were rearrested under the National Security Act.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and KQ2 reported that the suspects were arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s foreign intelligence service.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Timesofisrael (Israel) reported that the investigation is ongoing, with police stating they will share more information when possible.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Nightly (Australia) reported that the public has unanswered questions, and police are working to provide transparency.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and AFP reported that the arrests are part of an investigation into a security scare at a British airbase used by the United States.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and Jns reported that authorities in Cyprus arrested two men on terrorism-related suspicions after searches uncovered materials believed to be capable of use in the manufacture of explosives.
What's confirmed
- Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK said the men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, were arrested under the National Security Act.
- “Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it,” he added.
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the apparent plot was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
- Police in the United Kingdom have rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service after an incident at a United States-run airbase in England last month.
- British police declared a major incident in the area around RAF Fairford after a member of the public reported seeing three “suspicious” vans driving near the base.
- Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said the investigation was “hugely complex” and that detectives were looking at “many lines of enquiry”.
- British police said on Tuesday they had re-arrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence as part of their… Police officers guard an area as roadblocks remain in place near RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base and arrested several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, who have since been released on bail, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, Sept. 29, 2026.
- “We know the public have unanswered questions,” CTP’s Taylor said.
- Photo: REUTERS/Toby Shepheard British police said on Tuesday they had re- arrest ed two men on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence as part of their investigation into activity at the RAF Fairford air base last month.
- CTP said in a statement they had re- arrest ed a 24-year-old British national, who was initially arrest ed outside RAF Fairford, and also a 25-year-old British- Iranian dual national who had previously been arrest ed in London.
- A 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national were rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s foreign intelligence service, police said in a statement.
- Iran denied involvement, and the Iranian Embassy in London said the regime "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" attempts to link Iran to the incident.
What's still developing
- The suspects, ages 32 and 38, were arrested under court warrants following an intelligence-led operation near Governor’s Beach on Cyprus’s southern coast.
- A police statement said Brendan Nugent, 43, was charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official.