British counterterrorism police have arrested a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian citizen as part of the investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by the U.S. Air Force.
The man, the sixth suspect arrested in connection with the investigation, was taken into custody in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Police also searched two properties in the area, while a 26-year-old British man was questioned under caution.
British counterterrorism officials said investigators are examining multiple possible lines of inquiry, including the potential involvement of a foreign state.
The investigation began following a major security incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where five British men between the ages of 23 and 25 were initially arrested after several suspicious vehicles and a group of masked men were spotted near the base.
Authorities established a large security perimeter and evacuated dozens of nearby homes amid concerns that explosives could be present. Police later said no explosive devices were discovered in the vehicles, although a significant quantity of fuel was found.
The five original suspects were subsequently released on bail under restrictive conditions, a decision that drew criticism from President Donald Trump. British police defended the move as a strategic investigative decision.
The latest arrest comes amid growing scrutiny of a possible Iranian connection to the incident. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this week there were “strong indications” that Iran played a role in what occurred at Fairford. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said the incident “clearly” involved the hand of a foreign actor.
Iran has strongly denied the allegations, with its embassy in London rejecting what it called “baseless and malicious speculation” linking Tehran to the incident.
RAF Fairford has long served as a forward operating location for the U.S. Air Force in Europe. In recent months, American strategic bombers have departed from the base for operations against Iranian targets in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said Israel provided British authorities with intelligence that helped thwart the alleged plot.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
