Rubio says 'foreign actor' behind foiled RAF Fairford bomb plot; Trump faults UK bail release
US officials tie the Gloucestershire airbase incident to a foreign state, with Iran cited as a suspected link, after five British suspects were bailed.
What to know
- Five British men arrested near RAF Fairford, a base used by US bombers for Iran operations, were released on bail with no explosives found.
- Rubio calls the incident a 'very serious situation' involving 'a foreign actor' but offers no supporting evidence.
- Trump says he would not have released the suspects and suggests, without confirming, a possible Iran connection.
- UK counterterrorism police say they are still investigating whether proxies acting for a foreign state were involved, while Iran's London embassy denies any role.
“We are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally. We're going to always take that very seriously.”
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State · Anadolu Agency ↗ · Sep 28
Marco Rubio US Secretary of State
Donald Trump US PresidentLaurence Taylor UK Assistant Commissioner, counterterrorism policingIran's Revolutionary Guards Iranian military organizationIran's embassy in London Iranian diplomatic mission
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Guardian notes Rubio offered no evidence for claim — Coverage highlighted that Rubio's assertion of foreign involvement came without supporting evidence, while Iran's embassy in London denied any involvement and Iran's Revolutionary Guards had earlier called the base a legitimate target.
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Rubio links incident to broader Iranian threats
Rubio cited Iran as an example of actors who have 'openly threatened to attack American interests globally' and warned of repercussions, noting RAF Fairford has been used to launch US strikes on Iran.
“There will be repercussions for that if it ever were to happen or even attempted.”
— Marco Rubio -
first by Anadolu Agency, 6h ago · also Evening Standard, RTE News, Guardian, Jerusalem Post, Euronews
5 more headlines
- RAF Fairford suspected terror plot involved ‘a foreign actor’, says Marco Rubio Evening Standard · 5h ago
- Suspected RAF base plot involved 'foreign actor' - Rubio RTE News · 5h ago
- Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot Guardian · 5h ago
- Rubio says foreign actor involved in RAF Fairford bomb plot, Trump criticizes release of suspects Jerusalem Post · 3h ago
- RAF Fairford bomb plot 'clearly involves' foreign actor, US secretary of state says Euronews · 2h ago
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"The five men, all British nationals in their early 20s, were detained on Sunday after police were alerted by a local farmer about three white vans driving towards a British base that houses US bombers that fly missions against Iran." @theguardian.com
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⚡ NEWS US Secretary Rubio Claims Foreign Actor Behind RAF Fairford Bomb Plot US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that a foreign actor was clearly involved in the suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford in the UK. This statement followed the release on bail of five suspects arrested near the airbase, with Rubio describing the situation... 📰…
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⚡ NEWS US Officials Question Bail of RAF Fairford Suspects US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump expressed concern over the release on bail of five British nationals arrested in connection with a suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford. Rubio indicated foreign actor involvement, while... 📰 https://www…
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Rubio says a 'foreign actor' was clearly involved — In a Fox News interview, Rubio said the plot 'clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,' thanked UK authorities for their cooperation, and said many people were 'disturbed' by the suspects' release on bail.
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Trump says he would not have released the suspects — Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was surprised by the UK's decision to bail the suspects and suggested but declined to confirm an Iran connection.
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UK counterterrorism chief says foreign-state link still probed — Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said investigators are keeping an open mind, including on whether the activity was carried out 'by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.'
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Suspects released on bail, no explosives found — The five men were released on police bail under 'stringent conditions'; it later emerged no explosive material was found in the vans, though earlier assessments had considered whether devices were viable.
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Police arrest five men near RAF Fairford — UK counterterrorism police arrested five British nationals in their early 20s, from London, after a local farmer alerted authorities to three white vans driving toward the base; the men were held on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing an act of terrorism.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by FT, 5h ago · also The National UAE, Straits Times
2 more headlines
- Foreign actor behind UK airbase 'bomb plot', says Marco Rubio The National UAE · 1h ago
- Rubio says UK airbase incident involved a foreign state Straits Times · 13m ago
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first by Deutsche Welle EN, 24m ago · also Guardian
1 more headline
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2 outlets RAF Fairford: Marco Rubio says public ‘disturbed’ after five terror suspects released on bail
first by Independent UK, 1h ago · also The Independent