UK Police Arrest Dual National Over Alleged Plot Near US Air Base
A 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national has been arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with an incident near RAF Fairford, which is used by the U.S. Air Force.
Counter-terrorism police in the United Kingdom have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. The arrest is connected to an alleged plot near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire that is utilized by the U.S. Air Force.
A second man, identified as a 26-year-old UK national, has been questioned under caution. Police also searched two properties in the Westminster area.
This development follows the arrest of five men in their mid-20s near RAF Fairford on Sunday on suspicion of explosive offenses and terrorism. These five individuals, all UK nationals from London, were subsequently released on police bail under strict conditions.
Authorities are investigating "all possible angles - including possible foreign state involvement," according to Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing. Evans thanked the public for their support during the ongoing investigation.
The initial alert came early Sunday morning when police were notified of "three suspicious vehicles" in the village of Whelford, located near the airbase. During searches of the vehicles, police found petrol but no explosives.
One of the vans involved reportedly bore the branding "Fuel 2You," which is similar to a real company but with a phone number formatted in a style common in Iran. Observers also noted the use of a red logo for a fuel delivery business, a color associated with fuel pumps in Iran, as opposed to the typical green in the UK.
Earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested "strong indications that Iran played a part" in the incident, though he acknowledged the investigation was ongoing. Iran's embassy in London has denied any involvement.
Footage released from a resident's security camera showed a police robot breaching the doors of one of the suspicious vans.
It has also emerged that one of the five men arrested on Sunday had contacted the police approximately an hour before a local farmer reported the suspicious vehicles.