Two Men Re-arrested in Suspected Iran-Linked Plot Near RAF Fairford

British counterterrorism police re-arrested a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national on October 20 on suspicion of assisting Iran's foreign intelligence service. The arrests relate to a suspected plot near RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire used by U.S. forces, where an incident occurred on September 27.

On the morning of September 27, police responded to reports of three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford. The incident prompted the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes and the deployment of army bomb-disposal experts. Authorities discovered an accelerant—identified as petrol—in three vans at the site, but found no improvised explosive devices. A total of seven men in their twenties were initially arrested in connection with the incident on suspicion of explosives offences and preparation of a terrorist act. Five of these men remain on police bail.

Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, stated: "This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement." British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the suspected plot was "almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard." Iran has categorically rejected the accusations, with the Iranian Embassy in London issuing a statement condemning the "unfounded and malicious speculations" linking Iran to the incident.

Following the September 27 incident, the United States removed all of its B-1 and B-52 bombers from RAF Fairford and returned them to American bases. The base had been used for defensive operations involving strikes toward Iran. No charges have been filed against any of the suspects as the investigation continues.