British police arrest seventh suspect over RAF Fairford terror plot
A 22-year-old man was detained in London as detectives continue to investigate a suspected plot targeting the US air base in Gloucestershire.
British counter-terrorism police said on Tuesday they had arrested a 22-year-old man in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. He is the seventh person detained in an investigation into a security incident near the RAF Fairford air base in Gloucestershire.
The case began on 27 September, when five men were stopped near RAF Fairford while travelling in vans and were initially arrested on suspicion of breaching explosives laws, before being rearrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Police cordoned off the area, evacuated more than 80 households and carried out searches, before releasing all five on bail the following day.
A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old man with dual British and Iranian nationality, was arrested on 1 October, also in Westminster, and was later released on bail. Police said this week that no explosives had been found in the vans used by the five men arrested in September, though officers recovered a quantity of petrol.
Vicki Evans, the UK's national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said the investigation remained ongoing and that specialist teams were pursuing several lines of inquiry to establish the circumstances behind the events near RAF Fairford. She said officers were working around the clock to determine a motive and remained determined to examine every possible line of the case.
The arrests followed the United States confirming over the weekend that it had withdrawn its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford. President Donald Trump said on Monday there had been threats against the base, and that those responsible were likely linked to Iran. He said the aircraft had been moved only a short distance. Iran's embassy in London has denied similar accusations in the past.
What we know
- Police arrested a 22-year-old man in Westminster on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism, the seventh arrest in the RAF Fairford investigation.
- Five men arrested near RAF Fairford on 27 September were released on bail the next day; a sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested on 1 October and also bailed.
- Police found no explosives in the vans used by the September suspects, though some petrol was recovered.
- The US withdrew its long-range bombers from RAF Fairford over the weekend; President Trump said there had been threats he linked to Iran.
Not yet confirmed
- Any confirmed link between the suspects and Iran; Iran's embassy in London has denied similar accusations.
- US media reports that the bombers were withdrawn specifically over fears of a complex, Iranian-ordered drone attack.
Why it matters for Europe
RAF Fairford, used by the US Air Force, has also served as a base for American strikes on Iranian missile launchers used to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Polish broadcaster RMF24. A confirmed plot against a base hosting US military aircraft in Britain would mark a serious security threat to NATO infrastructure in Europe, and the withdrawal of long-range bombers shows how seriously officials are treating the risk.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- Tagesspiegel: Zwischenfall an britischer Militärbasis: Polizei nimmt 22-Jährigen wegen Terrorverdachts fest
- RMF24: Kolejny zatrzymany ws. potencjalnego ataku na brytyjską bazę wojskową
- Iefimerida: Βρετανία: Ακόμη μια σύλληψη υπόπτου για τον σχεδιασμό επίθεσης σε βρετανική αεροπορική βάση του Φέιρφορντ
- Liveuamap: British police accuse Iranians of planning a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Manchester, suspecting they have been in contact with a third party outside the country, possibly in Iran. The police have denied any connection to the incident at the R
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Questions and answers
- How many people have been arrested in the RAF Fairford investigation?
- Seven people have been arrested so far; six were released on bail and the seventh, a 22-year-old man, was held on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism.
- Why did the US withdraw its bombers from RAF Fairford?
- The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal after reported threats to the base; President Trump said those behind the threats were likely linked to Iran.
- Were any explosives found during the investigation?
- Police said no explosives were found in the vans used by the men arrested in September, though they recovered a quantity of petrol.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.