Five men arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have been released on police bail as counter-terrorism officers continue investigating a security incident near the military base.
Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the suspects were released after extensive questioning and further inquiries. He stressed that all five remain under investigation and must follow strict conditions governing their movements and contact with other people.
The men were initially detained over suspected explosives-related offenses before being arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, Taylor said.
Police have also carried out detailed examinations of the three vehicles used by the suspects, with assistance from military and forensic specialists. A 400-meter security cordon remains around Whelford, a village near RAF Fairford, while officers continue to maintain a significant presence at the base.
Authorities hope to scale back the operation later Monday and allow local residents to return to their homes.
Foreign State Links Investigated
Police are examining whether the broader geopolitical situation could be connected to the incident. Taylor said investigators were considering all possibilities, including whether the suspects may have acted as proxies or on behalf of a foreign state.
Security around RAF Fairford has increased after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned in July against allowing US bombers to operate from the base. The facility has supported US military operations against Iran since February amid the wider Middle East conflict.
UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said British military facilities at home and overseas could face threats from state-backed groups and terrorists. He declined to discuss operational details, saying that doing so could provide useful information to potential adversaries.
Iran has rejected any connection to the arrests. Its embassy in London dismissed reports linking Tehran to the five suspects as unfounded and strongly rejected the allegations.
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