Britain links Iran to RAF Fairford security incident as more details emerge

The British government says Iran likely was involved in a major security incident near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. bombers to strike Iran.

British officials have not explained publicly what the five men arrested near the base are suspected of planning. Police found supplies of gasoline in their vehicles but no improvised explosives, and the men remain under investigation after being released on bail.

British police made an additional arrest of a 27-year-old dual Iranian and British citizen on Thursday in London on the suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. A second man, a 26-year-old British citizen, was also questioned by police.

“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC in an interview Wednesday.

Burnham’s statement echoes comments by U.S. officials regarding the situation, which triggered a major police response early Sunday in the village of Whelford, just minutes from the air base.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” while President Donald Trump said the suspects “might be” connected to Iran.

“We’re studying it,” Trump added. “We’re studying it very hard. Iran’s got a lot of problems right now.”

Iran’s foreign minister denied Wednesday that his government was involved, taking issue with Burnham’s statement to Sky News that “we can confirm our belief that Iran played a part.”

Abbas Araghchi responded on X: “I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Trump also has questioned why the men, identified by police as British nationals in their 20s who live in London, were released Monday on bail, a day after they were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses.

British authorities said the men face strict restrictions on their movement and contact with others while the investigation continues.

Trump called the situation “serious,” saying that the men had been under surveillance for some time and “were looking to do big damage to our fort.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Wednesday that Israel had warned the United Kingdom “that there was going to be an attack, and it’s an Iranian-sponsored attack.”

Speaking to Fox News Wednesday, Netanyahu did not give specifics on what kind of information had been provided.

British authorities have not said what the men were doing in Whelford, which is about 85 miles northwest of the British capital.

Police said Tuesday that a “quantity of petrol” was recovered at the scene, but no explosives were found.

Also on Tuesday, British media reported that one of the suspects called police before the arrests. That seemingly contradicts initial police statements, which said a local farmer alerted authorities to the late-night activity.

Craig Albert, an intelligence and security specialist at Augusta University in Georgia, said it’s still unclear “how the pieces are being connected,” whether from British, U.S. or other intelligence sources.

In an interview Tuesday, Albert said officials may have information they have not disclosed but emphasized that explanations for the events remain conjecture.

Albert said it’s puzzling that the men were released, if indeed they were suspected terrorists.

“That leads me to believe that there’s more information” that officials have not disclosed and that there is “something more organized” behind the incident, he said.

Albert also pointed to reports of heightened security at RAF Fairford in the days before the arrests, saying they could suggest British or U.S. authorities had advance warning of a possible threat.