RAF Fairford suspected terror plot: Second man questioned as Iran link probed
A dual Iranian-British national has been arrested in connection with the suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford.
The man, 27, was arrested in Westminster on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist acts, Scotland Yard said on Thursday. A 26-year-old British national has also been questioned under caution.
Searches were carried out at two properties in the central London area, the force added.
Five British men in their 20s were detained in the early hours of Sunday morning after police received reports that three suspicious vans were heading towards the air base in Gloucestershire.
They were released on bail the following day, in a decision criticised by Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, his Secretary of State.
It emerged after the arrests that counter-terror police were investigating a possible link to Iran.
Vicki Evans, the senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “The investigation into circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is hugely complex, and our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of inquiry.
“As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement.”
RAF Fairford is home to hundreds of US military staff and has been used by bombers to launch strikes on Iran. In July the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any British base used to strike Tehran was a “legitimate target”.
On Wednesday, Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications that Iran played a part”.
The Prime Minister said that the investigation into the incident was “ongoing, complex and serious”, adding that Britain was working closely with the US.
“We will say more in due course, but we can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part,” he added.
Burnham refused to elaborate on why he suspected the involvement of Iran but continued: “I wouldn’t say it lightly.”
Asked about Trump’s criticism of the decision to bail the five suspects, the Prime Minister replied: “I think people need to understand that – you know when it says released – that isn’t as people might think. It’s obviously with the strictest possible bail conditions.
“The authorities have this under, as I say, the strongest grip and the closest control.”
It emerged earlier this week that one of the five suspects might have alerted the police himself, resulting in the suspected plot being uncovered.
Residents of Whelford, the village closest to the RAF base, said they felt at risk of attack following the incident at the weekend.
Villagers who were evacuated from their homes over fears of an explosion are fearful that they could be targeted again – this time in a full-blown attack.
One woman said: “I am worried it will happen again. We feel like sitting ducks. We’re not safe.”
The five suspects, who travelled to the site in three vans, were arrested after a farmer returning home from a party saw them and raised the alarm at 1.36am on Sunday.
She attempted to call an emergency hotline provided to residents by the Americans, who run RAF Fairford, but received no answer.
The group was then detained at the scene by armed police. A major emergency response operation ensued, with Army bomb-disposal specialists and a robot sent in to examine the vehicles.
Residents were not allowed to return to their homes until Monday evening.
On Tuesday evening, detectives said no explosive devices had been found in the three vans, but that they had recovered a quantity of petrol.
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