A 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national arrested in connection with a security incident at RAF Fairford has been released on police bail as investigations into the incident continue.
The man was arrested in Westminster, London, on Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Police have also completed searches at two properties in the same area.
The arrest followed a major security alert at RAF Fairford, a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Gloucestershire, after police received reports of three suspicious vehicles near the airbase last weekend.
The incident prompted the evacuation of dozens of homes while officers investigated reports of suspicious activity.
Five other men, all British nationals from London and aged between 23 and 25, were previously arrested in connection with the incident. They were subsequently released on police bail.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the events were ongoing.
Suspicious Vehicles Trigger Security Alert
The five men were initially arrested on suspicion of explosives-related offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. They were released on bail on Monday in what police described as an investigative decision based on experience and strategy.
The BBC reported that one of the men had called the emergency number 999 approximately an hour before a local farmer alerted police to a large group of masked men near the vehicles.
The circumstances surrounding the reported activity and the reasons for the emergency call remain part of the investigation.
Political and Diplomatic Reactions
The incident has attracted attention from British and American officials amid heightened tensions involving Iran.
According to the report, Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a COBRA emergency meeting following the arrests. He later said there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a role in the incident, but did not provide further details.
Iran has firmly denied any involvement. The Iranian Embassy in London said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” what it described as unfounded speculation linking Tehran to the events.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also suggested that a foreign actor was involved. Speaking on Fox News, he described the incident as a serious situation but did not provide evidence or identify the alleged actor.
US President Donald Trump expressed surprise that the five previously arrested men had been released on bail, saying he would not have made the same decision. He also said the United Kingdom had worked closely with the United States on the matter.
The statements from officials have not, in themselves, established who was responsible for the incident.
RAF Fairford’s Strategic Importance
RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, American bombers have reportedly operated from the base in connection with activities in the Middle East, following UK approval for US defensive strikes on Iran.
Iran previously warned that any base used to launch aggression against its territory would be considered a legitimate target.
Police have not announced any final conclusions about the incident, and the release of the suspects on bail does not amount to a finding of guilt. Investigations remain ongoing.
