UK believes Iran was involved in suspected terror plot near US-used airbase
Britain believes Iran played a role in a suspected terrorist plot near RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the U.S. military, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.
“We will say more in due course, but we can confirm that we believe Iran to have played a part,” Burnham told the BBC, according to Politico.
Five British men in their 20s were arrested Sunday after police received reports of suspicious vehicles near the base. They were initially detained on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Police found no improvised explosive devices after examining the vehicles but recovered what authorities described as “a quantity of petrol.” The five men were later released on bail and remain under investigation.
Britain's Counter Terrorism Policing has said it is examining “every possible angle,” including whether the suspects may have been acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately said the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.”
RAF Fairford hosts U.S. Air Force personnel and was authorized earlier this year for use in U.S. “defensive” strikes against Iran. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned in July that British bases used for U.S. attacks would become “legitimate targets.”
Iran has denied involvement in the Fairford incident.