London — The UK government believes that Iran played a part in the RAF Fairford incident which resulted in five men being arrested and then bailed, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.
Burnham told BBC and Sky News on Wednesday there are “strong indications” that Iran was involved in the suspected plot targeting the US-run airbase in Gloucestershire.
“There is indeed a strong indication that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation,” Burnham said.
In the early hours of Sunday, September 27, a farmer discovered three suspicious white vans blocking a road in Whelford village, near RAF Fairford — a base heavily used by the US Air Force to launch missions against Iran in recent months.
Five British nationals in their 20s, all living in London (four from Westminster, one from Camden), were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and “preparation of a terrorist act.”
Counter-terror police confirmed no explosives were found, but a quantity of petrol was recovered from the vans. The men were released on Monday on “the strictest possible bail conditions,” sparking criticism from US President Donald Trump who said “I wouldn’t have done that” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who said a “foreign actor” was involved.
In a bizarre twist, The Times revealed one of the suspects himself called 999 an hour before the arrests.
Burnham said he chaired an emergency COBRA meeting on Monday and is working closely with US colleagues: “We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part.”
Iran’s embassy in London has “categorically” denied involvement, calling speculation “Iranophobia”.
The investigation continues.
