5 British men released on bail after arrest over suspected airbase terror plot

Five British nationals arrested on suspicion of terror offences over an explosives threat to a Royal Air Force (RAF) base have been released on police bail, the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said on Monday.

CTP is leading the investigation after three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford in south-west England were intercepted by armed officers on Sunday.

Five men in their 20s were arrested in the Whelford area of Gloucestershire on suspicion of offences under the UK Explosives Act and preparing a terrorist act, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.

"I can confirm that following extensive interviews and enquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon," CTP chief Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told reporters.

"To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of enquiry," he said.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would chair an emergency ministerial Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) meeting over the issue, "just to make sure we have the full picture of the full situation, very clearly, in our sights".

Earlier, CTP said the men were being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), with a custody extension secured until later on Monday.

"Specially trained CTP investigators have been examining the scene overnight and have been carrying out a range of activity, which have led to multiple new lines of enquiry," CTP said.

"The nature of this investigation means significant numbers of resources, including military assets, remain deployed at the location... At this time, we are working to establish the full circumstances of the activity of those arrested, their knowledge and any motivation behind this incident," it added.

Amid speculation, Iran "categorically" rejected any involvement in the suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot and described the claims as "Iranophobia".

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London said it "strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base".

It said the circulation of such "fabricated speculations", particularly following what it described as "criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people", would serve no purpose other than to "fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK".

The embassy said Iran reserved the right to take "appropriate legal measures" to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to what it called misleading and damaging media narratives.

CTP said a cordon remained in place at the scene in the village as officers worked to minimise disruption to local communities.

"This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD [Ministry of Defence], and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, CTP Senior National Coordinator.

"I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, CTP are given the space to work carefully and clearly," she said.

Evans acknowledged the "incredibly disruptive" impact of the investigation on local people and sought to reassure them that the operation was being carried out in the interest of national security and, "most importantly", their own safety.

She also thanked emergency services, including the armed officers who first attended the scene.

A local farmer from Whelford told reporters on Monday that she initially raised the alarm after noticing "a large group of hooded and masked men" lingering near the treeline.

"I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me as a member of the public to see and report this. I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had," she told the BBC.

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked her for raising the alarm but stressed that she had only a "partial picture" of the incident.

"I won't go beyond that, in terms of commenting on operational security matters," he said.

RAF Fairford has been used to launch US operations against Iran during the ongoing war in West Asia.

US President Donald Trump said the men arrested near RAF Fairford were "looking to do big damage".

"We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great," Trump told reporters.

"It may have been Scotland Yard, I don't know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job," he said.

The incident follows a threat in July by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to attack RAF Fairford after veiled threats against the "British monarchy regime".