Five Men Bailed After Arrest Near US-Used UK Air Base as Iran Link Probed

Five British men arrested near a military air base in southwest England have been released on police bail as counterterrorism investigators continue examining whether the incident was connected to a foreign state, including Iran.

The men, all British nationals from London and aged between 23 and 25, were arrested early Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after police received reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the base.

They were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and were later detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.

The head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said the five men were released on Monday following extensive interviews and inquiries. He stressed that their release did not mean the investigation had ended.

The suspects remain under investigation and have been placed under stringent conditions governing their movements and contact with other people, Taylor said.

Investigators are pursuing what police described as multiple lines of inquiry. One of those is whether the suspected offences were carried out by individuals or proxies working knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.

Authorities have not established that Iran was behind the incident. Iranian officials have rejected suggestions of involvement, with the Iranian Embassy in London describing the speculation as unfounded and malicious.

Police are also examining other possibilities, including potential links to Russia or non-state militant groups, according to the Associated Press. The investigation therefore remains open and no conclusion has been announced about who, if anyone, may have been behind the suspected plot.

RAF Fairford is a UK-owned airbase that has been used by the United States as a forward operating location for heavy bombers. The base has been involved in American military operations in the Middle East, including the current conflict with Iran.

The arrests triggered a major security operation around the Gloucestershire base. Three vehicles connected to the suspects were examined by police, forensic specialists and military experts, while army bomb-disposal personnel were deployed to assess the potential threat.

About 85 households in nearby Whelford were evacuated during the operation. British authorities later said the scene had been made safe and residents could return to their homes.

A local farmer alerted police after reportedly seeing three suspicious vans and a group of men near the area. Police subsequently established a cordon around the location as specialist teams examined the vehicles and surrounding area.

The arrests come amid heightened concern in Britain over alleged activities by hostile states. British security officials have previously warned about Iranian and Russian attempts to use proxies or criminal networks to carry out operations on British soil.

However, those broader security concerns do not establish a connection between Iran and the five men arrested at Fairford.

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under observation and were believed to be preparing to cause significant damage, while British officials have been more cautious in publicly describing the evidence and circumstances surrounding the arrests.

British authorities say the investigation remains active, with counterterrorism officers continuing to examine the suspects, vehicles and possible links to foreign actors or other groups.