UK Police Rearrest Two Men Over Suspected Iran-Linked Plot at RAF Fairford
British counter-terrorism police rearrest two men under the National Security Act for a suspected Iran-backed security plot at RAF Fairford air base.
POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — British authorities confirmed on Tuesday that two men have been rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence in connection to a security incident last month targeting a vital military installation in England.
According to Counter Terrorism Policing, the suspects include a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian citizen. Both individuals were taken into custody under the provisions of the National Security Act following ongoing inquiries into the suspected plot.
The initial arrests occurred on September 27 and October 1, coinciding with a high-stakes security alert at the U.S.-operated RAF Fairford air base located in western England. The facility has previously been utilized for bombing campaigns against Iran throughout the ongoing military conflicts of this year.
The threat prompted the evacuation of numerous local residents as heavily armed police officers and military bomb disposal units deployed to the rural area. Law enforcement officials later confirmed discovering quantities of gasoline accelerant inside three vans located at the site, though no explosive devices were recovered.
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the alleged plot was almost certainly orchestrated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, known as the IRGC. While Tehran has officially denied any direct involvement, Iranian officials have previously asserted that any military installation utilized to launch attacks against their sovereign territory constitutes a legitimate target.
Authorities have previously detained five additional men in their 20s who were subsequently released on bail while investigations continue. No formal criminal charges have been filed against any of the suspects thus far in the complex judicial process.
Laurence Taylor, who heads National Counter Terrorism Policing in the U.K., emphasized that detectives are actively pursuing numerous investigative avenues. Characterizing the inquiry as a live and dynamic operation, Taylor reiterated that investigators maintain their assessment of high-level Iranian state involvement and are working to establish the ultimate objectives behind the plot.
The latest enforcement actions follow recent warnings from Ken McCallum, the head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5. McCallum stated that both Iran and Russia are intensifying hostile operations within the United Kingdom, noting that the incident at the RAF base is part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated event.
Domestic security officials report that over 50 individuals have been arrested in connection to Iran-linked plots over the past year alone. Authorities note that Tehran’s operational scope inside Britain has expanded beyond traditional dissident monitoring to encompass broader security threats.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
