Five men arrested near RAF Fairford over a suspected terror plot have been released on police bail, but remain subject to strict restrictions while investigators examine their alleged activities and possible motives.
Counter Terrorism Policing said the men, British nationals aged between 23 and 25 who live in London, were detained before dawn on Sunday after a local resident reported seeing men wearing black balaclavas moving towards the secure area of the Gloucestershire air base.
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and preparing to carry out a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act. They were released after about 38 hours of questioning.
Laurence Taylor, an assistant commissioner with Counter Terrorism Policing, said the men were subject to “stringent conditions” governing their movement and contact with others.
“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over,” he said. “They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of enquiry.”
Police said the inquiry could involve proxies — people hired to act on behalf of a foreign state, either knowingly or unknowingly. Ministers and senior officers have warned against speculation about who may have been behind the alleged plot.
RAF Fairford is used by American aircraft, including aircraft involved in strikes against Iran. The arrests prompted concern about the potential threat to the base and nearby communities, while reports showed a bomb disposal robot examining three white vans taken to the scene.
US President Donald Trump said the men had been under surveillance for “a long time” and were trying to do “big damage” to the base. The account raised questions after it emerged that the initial report had come from a farmer who encountered the group while driving along a local road at about 1.30am on Sunday.
Iran denies involvement in RAF Fairford arrests
Iran has denied any role in the incident. Its embassy in the UK rejected claims that the government was involved and said speculation about its alleged participation was fabricated.
“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 embassy said.
It added that the Islamic Republic of Iran reserved the right to take legal measures to protect the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to what it described as misleading and damaging media coverage.
The arrests took place several months after Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said the use of the British base by the United States was an important factor for Iran when considering how to respond to attacks.
Police have maintained roadblocks and security checks around RAF Fairford as the investigation continues.
