Man who called police himself linked to thwarted UK airbase terror plot
A suspect in a foiled terrorist scheme at a UK airbase called emergency services before five men were arrested near RAF Fairford.
Police say a suspect in a suspected terror plot at a UK military base used by the US Air Force called 999 an hour before five men were seized near RAF Fairford. A farmer, returning from a party, also alerted authorities after spotting the men and noting fake lettering on a van. The five, all London-based British nationals aged 23 to 25, were found with three vans loaded with petrol, which forensic experts confirmed were not improvised explosive devices.
They faced explosives and terrorism charges but were released on bail, a move that drew criticism from Donald Trump, who claimed they might be linked to Iran. Tehran’s embassy denied any involvement, calling the allegations unfounded. Laurence Taylor, head of national counterterrorism, defended the bail decision as a carefully considered use of policing powers. The investigation is ongoing and expected to continue for weeks.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about domestic security, international tensions and the handling of terrorism suspects.
How this story developed
- Sep 27 Police arrest men at RAF Fairford after suspicious vehicle activity
- Sep 28 Police declared a major incident and set up a 400‑metre exclusion zone around the base.
- Sep 28 The five suspects were released on police bail.
- Sep 29 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a foreign actor was involved in a thwarted terror plot near RAF Fairford, while five suspects were released on bail.
In this story
Related stories
6 in this thread