EditWas Fairford a real threat? Police bail leaves the question open
British police released the next day five people arrested on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the “hands of a foreign actor” were involved in an incident in which five men were arrested on suspected explosives and terrorism offences near a British airbase used by U.S. forces to strike Iran.
British police declared a major incident at the RAF Fairford base in western England following the arrests early on Sunday, and the government held a national emergency meeting.
British police arrest five men at Fairford U.S. air base in major incident
However the police released the five on bail on Monday, but said the investigation was not over and they were examining whether individuals acting for a foreign state were involved.
A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that three large white vans the men appeared to travel in had not contained viable explosives.
The source said Sunday’s police response had not been intelligence-led – an indication that the five were not under direct surveillance – but security had been beefed up at the base, suggesting there was information it was being targeted.
“What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor. I won’t get into great detail about that yet,” Rubio told the Fox News network’s “Hannity” program late on Monday.
He provided no evidence and did not give specific details.
Confusing remarks by Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump added to the confusion over the RAF Fairford arrests by implying that Washington already knew about the suspects.
Speaking on Sunday, he praised “an amazing job” with Britain, said the five men had been “looking to do big damage to our fort”, and claimed: “We had them under investigation… We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.” He was unsure which British agency was involved — “It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know.”
The account sat uneasily with the public British version, in which armed police moved after a farmer reported three suspicious vans near the base used by U.S. bombers striking Iran. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Whitehall sources had told him the operation was not intelligence-led. Trump later said he was “surprised” the men were released on bail, that the case “might be” linked to Iran, and that he “could be very specific, but I’d rather not say it” — remarks Tehran denied and British investigators have not confirmed.
Iran denies involvement
The five arrested are all British nationals in their early 20s from London. They were detained in the early hours on Sunday after police were alerted by a local farmer to the three white vans parked near RAF Fairford.
Local residents have said security was significantly beefed up at the base in the days leading up to Sunday. The local farmer told reporters that one neighbour, driving past the base on Saturday night, had been ordered by U.S. security personnel to stop and put their hands out of their car.
The farmer, who asked not to be named, called the police after she returned home around 0100 local time and found three large vans parked in the road, one with a fake telephone number on it, and a group of hooded and masked men running away.
On Tuesday morning, a large cordon remained around the base and roadblocks were in place, although local media reports said residents from nearby homes which had been evacuated were returning.
Western governments have warned in recent years of the threat of hostile actors from Iran, Russia and elsewhere organising destabilising activity or hiring proxies to carry out plots.
Britain raised its national terrorism threat level to its second highest in April after a series of antisemitic incidents in north London, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
It has also imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Iran, accusing them of involvement in hostile activity including plotting attacks and providing financial services to groups seeking to destabilise Britain and other countries.
Iran has denied involvement in attacks or plots in Britain and elsewhere, and on Monday denied any involvement in the incident at Fairford.
With Reuters, with additionaln reporting by EUalive
Caption: Media gather outside at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, Britain 28 September 2026. Five men have been arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after a major incident was declared at the airbase in the west of England. Bomb disposal teams have been examining a number of vehicles near RAF Fairford, and dozens of homes in the surrounding area have been evacuated. RAF Fairford has recently been used by the US Air Force to carry out strikes on Iran. EPA/NEIL HALL
Updated: September 29, 2026 - 11:25
