Five Men Released on Bail in Alleged RAF Terror Plot; Iran Denies Involvement

Five British men arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at RAF Fairford have been released on bail, Counter Terrorism Policing announced. The men, all from London and aged between 23 and 25, remain under investigation.

Iranian authorities have "categorically" rejected any involvement in the alleged plot, with its London embassy dismissing reports linking Tehran to the arrests as "unfounded and malicious speculations." The embassy stated that such claims serve only to fuel "Iranophobia propaganda in the UK" and reserved the right to take legal measures against misleading media narratives.

Elite SAS troops were deployed to the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of Sunday morning after the men were detained. Sources indicated that fears of suicide belts led to them being stripped during the arrests. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed the men's release on bail, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and they are subject to stringent conditions.

"To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over," Taylor stated. "They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry."

The arrests occurred after a farmer discovered three suspicious white vans blocking a road near the airbase. The farmer reported seeing more than five individuals fleeing the scene. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting praised the farmer's actions but suggested she had only a "partial picture" of the events.

RAF Fairford has been used by the United States Air Force for operations, including those targeting Iran. The base had reportedly been on high alert in recent weeks.

Counter Terrorism Policing's Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, described the operation as "hugely complex and large-scale," involving multiple agencies. She urged the public to allow counter-terrorism units the space to conduct their work thoroughly.

While UK authorities have dismissed suggestions of having advance notice of the plot, US President Donald Trump commented that the suspects were known to police and were "looking to do big damage" to US forces. Nigel Farage echoed concerns about internal threats, stating that such comments "verifies my worst fears."