Counter-terrorism police have confirmed that five men arrested near the RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire are all British nationals in their 20s from London. The suspects, who were apprehended on Sunday morning, include three individuals aged 24, one aged 25, and one aged 23. According to police records, three of the men reside in Westminster, one in Camden, and the remaining suspect in Willesden.
The men were taken into custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, with investigators successfully securing a custody extension to hold them until later on Monday. The arrests occurred in Whelford after reports surfaced of three vehicles traveling toward the airbase at 12:45 a.m. on Sunday. Authorities are holding the group on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and the preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The incident triggered a significant security response, leading to the evacuation of 85 households in the local village. A large police and emergency services presence remains at the scene, where a cordon is currently in place. Officers are utilizing substantial resources, including military assets, as they conduct investigations that have already yielded multiple new lines of inquiry.
Vicki Evans, the deputy assistant commissioner and senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the operation as a complex, large-scale effort involving local police, the Ministry of Defence, and other agencies. She acknowledged the disruption caused to local residents, emphasizing that the actions are being taken in the interest of national security and public safety. Evans also requested that the public allow investigators the space to work, noting the high level of speculation regarding the motivation behind the incident.
While investigators have been examining whether Iran might be linked to the suspected plot, the Iranian embassy in the UK has issued a strong rebuttal. In a social media statement, the embassy rejected what it described as “unfounded and malicious speculations” attempting to connect Iran to the arrests. The embassy condemned these narratives as “fabricated” and aimed at fueling “Iranophobia,” while asserting its right to take legal measures to protect its interests. The situation follows a July warning from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which stated that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would be considered a legitimate target.
“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.”
