US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” but he has not provided evidence to support the claim.
Speaking to Fox News, Rubio said the incident highlighted the threat posed by groups or states that have threatened US interests around the world, citing Iran as an example.
Iran has strongly denied any involvement, with its embassy in London describing suggestions linking Tehran to the incident as “unfounded and malicious.”
Five UK Nationals Arrested
A major incident was declared over the weekend after police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford.
Dozens of homes in the surrounding area were evacuated as police investigated.
Five men, all UK nationals aged between 23 and 25 and from London, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. They have since been released on bail under conditions restricting their movement and contact with others.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor of Counter Terrorism Policing said investigators were considering “all angles”, including the possibility that individuals could have been acting as proxies for a foreign state, either knowingly or unknowingly.
Why RAF Fairford Matters
RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating base by the US Air Force for decades.
In recent months, US bombers have operated from the base in connection with strikes against Iran after the UK approved an American request to use the facility for what the government described as defensive operations.
Iran has previously warned that bases used for attacks against its territory could be considered legitimate targets.
The latest incident has therefore raised security concerns around the base, although authorities have yet to establish who was behind the suspected plot or what its intended target was.
Authorities Urge Against Speculation
The investigation remains ongoing.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra emergency meeting and urged the public not to speculate while investigators establish the facts.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the arrests, saying he was surprised the suspects had been released on bail.
Meanwhile, a police cordon remained around RAF Fairford on Tuesday as investigators continued their work.
For residents nearby, the incident has created anxiety and uncertainty, with some describing heightened concern about suspicious vehicles and activity in the area.
Authorities have not yet publicly established a link between the suspects and Iran or any other foreign government.
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