Five bailed as police keep ‘open mind’ over suspected RAF Fairford plot

Five British men arrested over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford have been released on police bail, Press Association reports.

The men, aged between 23 and 25 and from London, were arrested in Whelford, Gloucestershire, on Sunday after three suspicious vans were reported travelling towards the airbase. They were initially held on suspicion of explosives offences and were later arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said the men remained under investigation and were subject to “stringent conditions” on their movement and contact with others.

He said police were considering “every possible angle”, including whether individuals may have acted as proxies for a foreign state, knowingly or unknowingly. However, he stressed that officers were keeping an open mind about the motivation and any possible link to Iran.

It is understood that material found during the operation was not viable explosives, although the investigation remains ongoing. Police and bomb disposal experts examined the vans after a cordon was established near RAF Fairford, which is used by the United States Air Force.

A local farmer told reporters she called 999 after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men nearby. She said armed police arrived shortly afterwards. About 85 households were evacuated during the operation, but residents were later allowed to return home.

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been “looking to do big damage” to the base. He later said the alleged plot “might be” linked to Iran and questioned the decision to release the men on bail, while praising the UK response.

Iran’s London embassy “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” what it called speculation about Iranian involvement.

Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said Counter Terrorism Policing was leading the investigation and urged people to avoid speculation while inquiries continued. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said it was too early to attribute the suspects’ motives, while the US Air Force said personnel at RAF Fairford remained vigilant.