US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said a suspected terror incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, involved “the hands of a foreign actor.”
Rubio made the statement during an interview with Fox News on Monday. However, he did not identify the foreign actor or provide evidence linking any particular country to the incident.
The comments followed the arrest of five British men in their 20s near the Royal Air Force base on Sunday.
British counter-terrorism officers said the men were arrested after police received reports of suspicious vehicles in the area. They were initially held on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and preparation of a terrorist act.
The suspects were later released on police bail following interviews and further inquiries.
Authorities stressed that their release does not mean the investigation has ended. The men remain under investigation and are subject to conditions relating to their movement and contact with others.
Police examining possible foreign links
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators are keeping an open mind and examining the incident from every possible angle.
He said police are considering whether the activity could have involved individuals acting as proxies for a foreign state, either knowingly or unknowingly.
The development has raised questions about whether the incident could be connected to the wider geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the United States.
Rubio referred to Iran during his Fox News interview, saying Iranian actors have openly threatened American interests around the world. He did not, however, directly accuse Tehran of involvement in the Fairford incident.
Iran has strongly denied any connection to the incident.
Major security operation at RAF Fairford
The security operation began after suspicious vehicles were reported close to RAF Fairford early Sunday.
Police deployed armed officers and specialist teams, while nearby residents were evacuated as authorities examined the vehicles and secured the area.
RAF Fairford is an important base for US military operations and has been used by American aircraft in operations involving Iran.
Rubio described the incident as a serious situation and indicated that additional information could emerge as the investigation progresses.
For now, British authorities have not publicly established who was behind the suspected plot or confirmed the involvement of any foreign government.
