A dual Iranian-British citizen has been arrested by counter-terrorism police in Britain following an allegedly foiled plot to attack a U.S. airbase on British soil last weekend. The 27-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act of 2006. This arrest marks the sixth in connection with a bomb alert at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. The police had previously released five other men on bail, leading to public confusion amid the limited and seemingly contradictory information available.
In addition to the recent arrest, police have searched two properties in Westminster and questioned another man, a 26-year-old British citizen, under caution. A spokesman for counter-terrorism policing described the investigation as “hugely complex” and indicated that all possible angles, including foreign state involvement, are being considered.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there is a “strong indication” that the Iranian government was involved in the incident at RAF Fairford. He expressed gratitude to Gloucestershire police and counter-terrorism police for their efforts. This statement aligns with comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who noted that the incident “clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor,” and U.S. President Donald Trump, who mentioned that London and Washington had been monitoring the suspects prior to the arrests.
U.S. Ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, commented on the collaboration between UK and U.S. authorities in addressing the situation. RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire, is a significant U.S. Air Force base that handles heavy bombers and has been involved in recent military operations. Reports indicate that both the British and American governments were aware of a potential security threat to the base prior to the arrests, leading to heightened security measures. The base had reportedly moved to force protection level ‘Delta’ in response to intelligence of a specific and imminent threat, with additional security measures being implemented, including the placement of concrete barriers around the main gate.