Seventh Man Arrested In RAF Fairford Terror Investigation
A seventh man has been arrested as British counter terrorism police investigate a suspected plot linked to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The 22 year old British national was arrested in Westminster, central London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Police also searched a property in the same area as part of the investigation. Counter Terrorism Policing said the inquiry remains active and that specialist teams are continuing to examine several possible lines of investigation into the circumstances surrounding events near the military base.
The latest arrest follows an incident on September 27, when five men in their twenties were detained near RAF Fairford after police received reports of three vehicles travelling towards the airbase during the early hours. The men were arrested in Whelford, a village close to the Gloucestershire installation, and were initially held on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and preparation of a terrorist act.
Police subsequently confirmed that the five men were released on bail without charge. Investigators said a quantity of petrol had been recovered from three vans connected to the suspects, although no improvised explosive device was found. The men remain under investigation and were released subject to strict conditions governing their movements and contact with other people while detectives continue their inquiries.
The circumstances of the initial incident prompted a significant security response around RAF Fairford. Specialist counter terrorism investigators examined the scene while military resources were also deployed in the surrounding area. A cordon was established and local residents experienced disruption as police and other authorities worked to determine the nature of the incident and whether there had been an intended threat to the airbase.
A sixth suspect was later arrested in London on October 1. The man, aged 25, is a dual British and Iranian national and was also detained on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Police searched two properties in Westminster in connection with that arrest before confirming that the suspect was released on bail two days later. The investigation has therefore continued to expand beyond the immediate area around RAF Fairford.
Counter Terrorism Policing has said investigators are considering all possible explanations for the incident. Authorities have specifically acknowledged that possible foreign state involvement is among the lines of inquiry being examined. Police have not publicly established who may have been behind the suspected activity or what the precise objective was, and detectives have stressed that the investigation remains complex and ongoing.
The latest arrest was announced by Counter Terrorism Policing on October 6. Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans said specialist teams were continuing to work at pace to establish the motivation behind the events in Gloucestershire. She also thanked members of the public for their patience while investigators examine the circumstances and pursue multiple lines of inquiry.
The investigation has attracted international attention because RAF Fairford has been used by the United States military for operations involving Iran. The Gloucestershire airbase has hosted American aircraft and has served as an important location for US air operations. Its role in the wider conflict has increased the significance of any security incident occurring in the vicinity of the installation.
US military aircraft were moved away from RAF Fairford during the latest developments. The United States removed its heavy bombers from the base after President Donald Trump said there had been a threat to the installation. Trump said the aircraft were moved rather than left at a location where they could potentially be exposed to further danger while authorities continued investigating the situation.
The movement of the bombers has added to speculation about the nature of the threat being investigated. However, the precise connection between the aircraft withdrawal and the arrests has not been publicly established by British authorities. Investigators have continued to examine the original incident independently while the United States has taken additional security precautions around its military assets in Europe.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously said there were strong indications that Iran may have been involved in the incident. The comments were made while the investigation was still developing and without publicly detailing the evidence behind the assessment. British authorities have continued to examine the possibility of foreign state involvement as one of several potential explanations for the events near the airbase.
Iran has denied involvement in the incident and rejected allegations that it was connected to the suspected plot. The Iranian government has also argued that military bases used to conduct attacks against Iranian territory are legitimate targets. The competing claims have added an international dimension to an investigation that remains subject to significant legal and intelligence considerations.
The initial arrests also attracted attention because the five men detained near the base were released on police bail rather than being charged. Counter Terrorism Policing defended that decision, saying it was an investigative decision based on the available evidence and the legal powers available to officers. The suspects remain under investigation and are subject to conditions intended to restrict their movements and communications while inquiries continue.
The latest 22 year old suspect was detained under provisions allowing police to investigate suspected preparation of terrorist acts. His arrest does not amount to a criminal charge or a finding of guilt. Counter Terrorism Policing has not released further details about his alleged involvement, and investigators are continuing to establish how he may be connected to the wider circumstances surrounding the September incident.
RAF Fairford remains a significant military location because of its longstanding role in supporting US Air Force operations. The base is located around 100 miles west of London and has previously been used for strategic aircraft deployments. Its importance to American military operations means that any credible security concern can require extensive cooperation between British authorities, military personnel and US officials.
The investigation has also involved considerable resources, with specialist police teams and military personnel deployed during the early stages. Authorities have worked to secure the area, examine vehicles and gather information while minimising disruption to nearby communities. The scale of the response reflects the seriousness with which police have treated the possibility that the incident could have involved preparations for a terrorist attack.
Despite the arrests, police have not publicly confirmed what the suspects were allegedly planning or whether an attack was imminent. No improvised explosive device was found in the vehicles connected with the five men initially arrested. Investigators are therefore continuing to establish the significance of the petrol discovered in the vans and whether it formed part of any intended activity.
The investigation is also examining whether individuals may have acted independently or on behalf of another party. Counter Terrorism Policing has said possible proxy activity and potential foreign state involvement are among the possibilities being considered. Officials have not reached a publicly announced conclusion, meaning speculation about the motive and intended target remains separate from the evidence that has so far been disclosed.
Six of the suspects arrested before the latest development remain on police bail while inquiries continue. The seventh suspect is now being investigated alongside them, with police working to determine whether there are connections between the individuals and the original incident near RAF Fairford. Further arrests or additional searches remain possible as detectives examine evidence gathered during the investigation.
The latest arrest comes as security concerns around US military installations in Europe remain high. The presence of American aircraft at RAF Fairford and the base's role in operations connected with Iran have increased attention on the site. British and American authorities are continuing to monitor potential threats while investigators work to establish whether the incident represented an organised attempt to attack the installation.
For now, Counter Terrorism Policing has urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward. Police have said the inquiry remains active and that specialist officers are pursuing multiple lines of investigation. The arrest of the seventh suspect represents another development in a case that began with the detention of five men near the airbase and has since expanded to include arrests in London.
The investigation remains ongoing and no one arrested in connection with the case has been charged with an offence at this stage. Police continue to examine the evidence surrounding the September 27 incident, including the vehicles, the petrol recovered and the possible connections between the suspects. Further details are expected to emerge as investigators establish the circumstances and motivation behind the events near RAF Fairford.
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