Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford on explosives and terrorism suspicions before being released on bail
There are strong indications that Iran was involved in a suspected terrorism-related incident at RAF Fairford airbase in southwestern England, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.
Police arrested five men near the base on Sunday on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing a terrorist attack. RAF Fairford hosts US bombers used in missions against Iran. All five suspects were released on bail the following day as officials remained tight-lipped about the nature of the case.
The identities of the suspects have not been made public.
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford,” Burnham told the BBC on Wednesday, marking the first time UK authorities have publicly linked the incident to a foreign actor.
He declined to provide further details, promising to “say more in due course.”
Burnham also defended the decision to release the suspects, which had been questioned by US President Donald Trump, insisting that the men were subject to the “strictest possible bail conditions.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Burnham’s claims on social media.
“I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You’re barking up the wrong tree,” he wrote on X.
The Iranian Embassy in London earlier issued a statement strongly denying any involvement in the incident near RAF Fairford and accused the UK government of peddling “Iranophobia.”
PM Burnham says the UK Government "can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part" in the RAF Fairford incident.
I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.
The mysterious case has fueled much speculation in Western media, including theories that Russia or unspecified Islamist extremists may have been behind the incident. The suspects’ swift release on bail without a detailed explanation also prompted questions and criticism.
“I would have said, ‘Don’t let them have bail.’ I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
