UK releases five Fairford terror suspects on bail as Iran probe continues
Police free five Londoners arrested over an alleged plot against RAF Fairford, while investigators weigh possible foreign-state involvement.
What to know
- Five British men arrested near RAF Fairford, a base used by US forces including for strikes on Iran, have been released on bail without charge.
- UK counterterrorism police say they are keeping an 'open mind' on whether a foreign state directed the alleged plot via proxies.
- Iran has denied any involvement; the men remain under investigation.
- The release without charge has raised questions about whether the initial 'major incident' framing overstated the threat.
“They say the suspects remain part of an ongoing investigation. The head of the UK's national counterterrorism force says they'll look into whether a foreign state may be involved. Iran has strongly denied any involvement.”
Camille Nedelec, Al Jazeera correspondent · Al Jazeera English (broadcast) ↗ · Sep 28
Laurence Taylor UK Head of Counter Terrorism Policing
Shabana Mahmood UK Home Secretary
Donald Trump US PresidentIran Named as possible foreign-state linkFive suspects British nationals arrested and released on bail
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesvideos
-
upcoming
Iran denies involvement in alleged Fairford plot — Al Jazeera reported that Iran has strongly denied any involvement, as UK counterterrorism officials continue to examine whether a foreign state played a role in the alleged plot near the base used for strikes on Iran.
-
1
Home Secretary Mahmood warns plotters 'will never defeat us'
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood issued a statement addressing those behind the alleged plot as the release of the suspects was announced.
“To all those who mean us harm and plot violence on our soil, let this be a reminder you will never defeat us.”
— Shabana Mahmood -
first by Legal Insurrection, 15h ago · also The Australian
1 more headline
- RAF Fairford terror suspects released on bail The Australian · 11h ago
-
-
background
Police release five suspects on bail — The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, announced the five men, all British nationals in their 20s from London, had been released on bail though they remain under investigation; he said police are keeping an 'open mind' on whether a foreign state directed the plot.
-
background
Commentary questions if UK overstated the Fairford threat — Analysts noted the release of all five suspects without charge sits at odds with earlier descriptions of a 'major incident' and a disaster averted, leaving unresolved questions about the true scale of the alleged plot.
-
background
UK convenes Cobra meeting on Fairford plot — A Cobra national security meeting was convened to discuss the incident, underscoring how seriously the government was treating the alleged plot before the suspects were released.
-
background
Trump says suspects were 'looking to do big damage' — US President Donald Trump told reporters the suspects had been under surveillance by both British and US authorities for a long time before being caught.
-
background
Five men arrested near RAF Fairford airbase — British police arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after three suspicious vehicles were seen driving toward RAF Fairford in the early hours; security was stepped up and the army examined several vehicles.
