RAF Fairford security scare: UK says ‘strong indications’ Iran played a part

London: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that there are “strong indications” Iran played a part in an incident near RAF Fairford in England, where five British men were arrested over suspected terrorism and explosives offences.

The five men, all in their 20s, were arrested late Sunday after they were found near the perimeter of RAF Fairford, a military base frequently used by the United States. Police said three vans were involved and that they found a quantity of gasoline, described as an accelerant. No explosives were found.

The suspects were released on bail a day later and remain under investigation.

Speaking to the BBC, Burnham said the investigation was “ongoing, complex and serious” and that British authorities were working closely with their US counterparts.

“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford,” Burnham said. He added that officials would provide more information in due course but did not disclose further details.

Iran has denied involvement in the incident.

The case has attracted attention in the United States because RAF Fairford has been used by US military aircraft, including bombers involved in operations in the Middle East. The base is around 100 miles (160 kilometres) west of London and has been used by the US military during several conflicts.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the suspected plot “clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor”. US President Donald Trump had earlier said the suspects “might be” connected to Iran.

The comments came as US officials questioned the decision to release the five suspects on bail. Trump said he would not have taken the same approach, while Rubio said many people were concerned by the decision.

British counterterrorism officials have defended the decision. Laurence Taylor, head of British counterterror policing, said the suspects remained under investigation and that the decision was based on police experience and strategy.

Investigators are examining whether the suspected offences were carried out by individuals acting independently or by people working, knowingly or unknowingly, on behalf of a foreign state.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns in Britain over alleged activity linked to hostile states. British security officials have previously warned that countries including Iran and Russia have used proxies to carry out activities in the UK.

British authorities have also previously warned that Iran-linked individuals or networks could pose a security threat in Britain, particularly amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

For now, investigators have not publicly established what the five men allegedly intended to do near RAF Fairford or provided detailed evidence linking them to Iran. Burnham's statement represents the UK government's assessment at this stage of the investigation, while Iran continues to reject the allegation.

The RAF Fairford incident comes against a backdrop of heightened UK-US security cooperation and wider tensions involving Iran. The base's use by the US military gives the case an international dimension, while the alleged involvement of a foreign state is still being investigated.

A key issue is whether the suspects acted independently or were connected to an overseas organisation or government. British counterterrorism officials have said this is one of the lines of inquiry.

The decision to release the suspects on bail has also highlighted differences in approach between British law enforcement procedures and reactions from senior US officials. However, the investigation is continuing, and no final conclusion about the suspects' intentions or any Iranian role has been publicly established.