Iran has denied involvement in a suspected bomb plot at a UK airbase used by the US, after British counter-terror police arrested five men near RAF Fairford in southwest England.
Iran’s embassy in London on Monday “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” speculation linking Tehran to the incident, calling reports by some British media “unfounded and malicious”.
The five suspects aged between 23 and 25 are all UK nationals living in inner London boroughs, police said on Monday. They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act.
Counter-terror investigation
Police were alerted early Sunday after reports of three “suspicious” white vans heading towards the Gloucestershire base. Bomb-disposal experts were later deployed, while about 85 households in a nearby village were evacuated.
Counter Terrorism Policing said it was investigating the circumstances, knowledge and possible motivation of those arrested.
“I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said.
“However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly,” she added.
US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation for some time and appeared to indicate there could be an Iranian connection, without providing evidence.
Base used for Iran operations
The US has been authorised to use RAF Fairford for “specific defensive operations into Iran” since March. US bombers and other aircraft have since been seen operating from the base, the only one on mainland Britain used for that purpose.
Residents said security and military activity around the base had increased in recent months.
Britain’s defence minister Wes Streeting said a local farmer who alerted police after seeing the vans and masked men had only a “partial picture” of the incident.
Iran has previously warned Britain against allowing its bases to be used for US operations against Tehran. In March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London of “putting British lives in danger” by allowing the bases to be used “for aggression against Iran”.
