UK Arrests British-Iranian Man in Suspected Terror Plot Investigation at RAF Fairford

LONDON (Terror Monitor) — British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old British-Iranian dual national in connection with an investigation into suspected preparations for terrorist acts linked to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire used by the United States Air Force.

The man was arrested in Westminster, central London, on Thursday, October 1, under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Police also questioned a 26-year-old British national under caution and searched two properties in the same area, Counter Terrorism Policing said in an official update.

The latest arrest comes four days after five British men in their twenties were detained near RAF Fairford following reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the airbase in the early hours of Sunday, September 27.

The five men, all British nationals from London, remain on police bail as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, the suspects’ possible intentions and whether others were involved. Authorities have not announced any charges in connection with the investigation.

According to Counter Terrorism Policing, the inquiry remains complex and involves multiple lines of investigation, including the possibility of foreign state involvement.

Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said specialist teams were examining different aspects of the case.

“The investigation into circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is hugely complex, and our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of enquiry,” Evans said.

She added that investigators were considering all possible explanations, including potential involvement by a foreign state, and thanked members of the public for their continued support and patience.

Five men arrested near military airbase

The investigation began in the early hours of Sunday, September 27, when police received information about three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling towards RAF Fairford.

Armed officers responded to the report and arrested five men in the nearby village of Whelford, Gloucestershire. The men were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and were subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Police identified the five suspects as British nationals aged between 23 and 25, residing in the London areas of Camden, Westminster and Willesden.

The arrests triggered a major security response around the airbase, with police establishing a cordon and deploying specialist personnel to examine the vehicles and surrounding area.

Investigators also searched properties in London as part of the inquiry. Police subsequently confirmed that the five men had been released on bail, subject to conditions, while the investigation continued.

Their release does not mean the investigation has concluded, and they remain under investigation.

No improvised explosive devices found in vehicles

In an update on September 29, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said forensic examinations of the three vehicles had been carried out with support from military personnel and specialist experts.

According to statements reported by ITV News and other media outlets, no improvised explosive devices were found in the vehicles, although police recovered a quantity of petrol.

The findings are an important part of the ongoing inquiry, but investigators have not publicly established the precise purpose of the vehicles’ presence near the base or the intentions of the people travelling in them.

Police have urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the motive while officers continue to assess the available evidence.

The investigation is examining the suspects’ activities, their knowledge of the incident and any possible links to other individuals or organisations.

Possible foreign state involvement under investigation

The possibility of foreign state involvement has emerged as a significant line of inquiry, although British police have not publicly confirmed that any government directed or supported the suspected activity.

The latest arrest of a British-Iranian dual national has added another dimension to the investigation, but nationality alone does not establish a connection to a foreign government.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has publicly referred to indications of possible Iranian involvement in the incident, according to reporting by Reuters and The Washington Post. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have yet to announce conclusive findings establishing responsibility.

Iran has rejected allegations linking it to the incident, according to international media reports.

The distinction between investigating a possible foreign connection and establishing state responsibility remains central to the case. Police have not publicly disclosed evidence demonstrating that the latest suspect acted on behalf of Iran or any other foreign state.

Strategic importance of RAF Fairford

RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, southwest England, that has long served as an operating location for US Air Force aircraft, including strategic bombers deployed for missions requiring long-range capabilities.

The base has acquired additional strategic significance amid the conflict involving Iran and US military operations in the region. Its use by American forces has placed it within a wider security environment shaped by regional tensions and concerns about potential retaliation against military facilities supporting US operations.

Reuters reported that the September 27 arrests occurred at a base used by US forces for missions targeting Iran. The circumstances have prompted increased attention to the protection of military installations and the possibility of threats extending beyond the immediate conflict zone.

However, the precise motive behind the incident near RAF Fairford has not been established publicly, and investigators have not confirmed that the suspected activity was ordered by a foreign government.

Investigation continues

British counter-terrorism officers are continuing to examine evidence connected to the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the three vehicles, the activities of the five men arrested on Sunday and the possible involvement of additional individuals.

The arrest in Westminster, questioning of a second man and searches of two properties indicate that investigators are pursuing additional lines of inquiry beyond the original incident in Gloucestershire.

Authorities have appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact police through the UK government's ACT reporting service or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline.

Counter Terrorism Policing has emphasised that the inquiry remains active and that its specialist teams are working with local police, the Ministry of Defence and other relevant agencies.

No final conclusions have been announced regarding the intended target, the alleged operational plan or any possible foreign state connection. The investigation is continuing as police seek to establish the full circumstances of the incident.