Date: October 3, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
A 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national arrested in connection with a suspected terrorism plot near a U.S.-run military base in England has been released on police bail, British authorities said Saturday, as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding a security incident at RAF Fairford.
The man was arrested Thursday in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts near RAF Fairford, a U.K.-owned air base operated by the United States that has been used by American bombers in strikes against Iran. He was the sixth person detained in connection with the investigation and subsequently released on bail. Police also searched two properties in London linked to the investigation.
Five other men, all British nationals in their 20s from London, were arrested earlier in the investigation and have also been released on bail. Their identities have not been publicly disclosed. Authorities have not announced charges against any of the six men, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The investigation began after police were called early Sunday over three suspicious vans travelling near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Armed police and army bomb-disposal specialists were deployed, while residents living close to the military facility were temporarily evacuated as authorities examined the vehicles and surrounding area.
Police later said they found a quantity of gasoline, described as an accelerant, in the three vans associated with the five original suspects. No improvised explosive devices were discovered. The presence of the vehicles and the possibility of an explosive threat prompted a significant security response around the base.
Britain's counterterrorism authorities have described the investigation as complex and said detectives are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including possible foreign-state involvement. Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said investigators were examining all possible angles.
British authorities have linked the investigation to Iran, although officials have not publicly provided evidence explaining what the suspects allegedly intended to do or what specific role Tehran may have played. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there were “strong indications” that Iran was involved, without providing further details.
Iran has denied involvement in the incident. Tehran has previously stated that military bases used to launch attacks against Iranian territory could be considered legitimate targets, but that position does not by itself establish Iranian involvement in the Fairford investigation.
RAF Fairford is located about 160 kilometres west of London and has a long history of hosting U.S. military aircraft. The base has been used by American bombers during conflicts in the Middle East, including operations connected to this year's war with Iran.
The release of the suspects on bail has drawn criticism from senior U.S. officials. President Donald Trump said he would not have released the suspects on bail, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were concerns about the decision. British authorities have defended the ongoing investigation and emphasized that the case remains under police control.
The investigation comes amid heightened concern in Britain over alleged activities by hostile states. British security officials have said Russia and Iran have used proxies in criminal activities on U.K. soil, while authorities have reported an increase in national-security cases involving suspected hostile-state activity.
British officials have previously accused groups linked to Iran of involvement in arson and other attacks in Britain and elsewhere, including incidents affecting Jewish communities. Iranian authorities have rejected allegations of involvement in such activities.
The latest arrest and subsequent release on bail do not establish that the 25-year-old man committed a terrorist offence or that Iran directed the alleged plot. No charges have been announced, and investigators are continuing to examine the evidence, the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and the possible connections between the suspects.
Police have now completed searches of the two London properties connected to the dual national. The investigation into the suspected plot near RAF Fairford remains active as British authorities continue examining possible domestic and foreign links.