Date: October 1, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts as part of an investigation into a security incident near RAF Fairford, a British military airbase used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
The arrest represents a significant development in an investigation that began after five British men in their 20s were detained near the Gloucestershire airbase on Sunday. The five men were subsequently released on police bail, but authorities have continued investigating whether the incident involved a foreign state. Police said they were examining multiple possible lines of inquiry, including possible foreign-state involvement.
The 25-year-old dual national was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Police also searched two properties in the capital as part of the investigation.
Vicki Evans, the United Kingdom's senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said the investigation was “hugely complex” and that specialist teams were examining several possible explanations for what happened near the airbase.
“As we've made clear, we're looking at all possible angles - including possible foreign state involvement,” Evans said, according to Reuters.
The investigation began in the early hours of Sunday after police received information about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford. A local farmer reported seeing several vans in the area and became concerned about the behavior of people nearby. Three vans were subsequently stopped as part of the police operation.
The incident prompted a major security response, with armed police deployed and residents in the surrounding area temporarily evacuated while bomb-disposal specialists examined the vehicles.
Police later confirmed that no improvised explosive device had been found in the vans. However, investigators discovered a quantity of petrol. The presence of the fuel, combined with the circumstances surrounding the suspects and their proximity to the airbase, remained part of the investigation.
The five men arrested near Fairford were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and terrorism-related offences. They were later released on police bail without charges being announced. British authorities have stressed that their release does not mean the investigation has ended.
The possibility of Iranian involvement has become a major focus of the investigation, although British authorities have not publicly established that Iran directed or sponsored the activity.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday that there were “strong indications” Iran had played a role in what happened at RAF Fairford. He did not publicly provide details supporting that assessment.
Iran has rejected the allegations. Iranian officials have described suggestions of Iranian involvement as unfounded and denied that Tehran had any role in the incident. Iran's embassy in London has also rejected attempts to connect the country to the men arrested near the airbase.
The investigation comes amid heightened tensions between Britain, the United States and Iran. RAF Fairford has been used by American military aircraft during operations in the Middle East, including missions connected to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The base, located roughly 100 miles west of London, has long served as an important operating location for the U.S. Air Force. American bombers have used Fairford during previous conflicts, and the facility has been involved in recent operations against Iranian military targets.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously warned that military bases used to launch attacks against Iran could be regarded as legitimate targets. That warning has contributed to heightened security around facilities associated with U.S. military operations.
The earlier arrests also attracted attention in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the decision to release the five men on bail, saying he would not have taken the same approach. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio likewise expressed concern about the decision and suggested that a foreign actor could have been involved. British authorities, however, have continued to emphasize that the investigation remains ongoing and that its conclusions have not yet been reached.
British officials have said they are working closely with American counterparts as investigators assess the incident. Burnham said the British government was maintaining close coordination with the United States while allowing police and security agencies to conduct their investigation.
The arrest of the dual national in London could provide investigators with another avenue for determining whether the people detained near Fairford were acting independently or had connections to a wider network. Police have not publicly disclosed what evidence led them to arrest the man, nor have they announced what role they believe he may have played.
Authorities have also cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. Evans said investigators were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry rather than settling on a single explanation.
The case remains an investigation rather than a finding of guilt. No charges have been announced against the newly arrested man, and British authorities have not established publicly that Iran was responsible for the incident.
As the investigation continues, security measures around RAF Fairford and other facilities connected to U.S. military operations in Britain remain under heightened scrutiny. Police are expected to examine the evidence gathered from the vehicles, the circumstances surrounding the five earlier arrests and any possible connections involving the newly arrested dual national before determining whether further arrests or charges are warranted.