Detectives have arrested a 25-year-old dual UK‑Iranian national on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts as part of an inquiry into a suspected plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Counter‑terrorism police said the man was detained on Thursday in Westminster under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. The arrest follows the earlier detention on Sunday of five men in their 20s in the village of Whelford, close to the US air base, after reports of suspicious vans in the area.
Two properties in Westminster were searched by officers as the investigation widened. Authorities said those originally arrested in Gloucestershire had been released on police bail, while the inquiry continues to examine multiple lines of inquiry.
Investigation widens amid questions over foreign involvement
Senior national counter‑terrorism co‑ordinator Vicki Evans warned the probe is “hugely complex” and that specialist teams are working through several strands of inquiry. She said investigators were considering all possibilities, including the prospect of foreign state involvement.
“As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement.”
Officials have said an Iranian link to events in the Gloucestershire countryside is increasingly likely as the police and security services pursue leads. Iran’s embassy in London has denied any role in the incidents.
The events have triggered concern at ministerial level. The growing view among investigators that a foreign state may be implicated prompted Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to convene a meeting of COBRA, the government’s emergency committee, on Monday; senior police and security officials attended.
Sequence of events and public reports
Police were first alerted after a farmer returning from a party at around 1am on Sunday spotted several men and vans near the base, he told 999. Subsequently, one of the five men detained near RAF Fairford is reported to have telephoned police to report the incident.
The presence of RAF Fairford has been sensitive in recent months after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards named the base as a legitimate target in July, adding to tensions and prompting heightened vigilance around the site.
- 25 — age of the man arrested in Westminster.
- 5 — men initially arrested in Whelford and released on bail.
- 2 — properties searched in Westminster.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial arrests | Five men in their 20s detained in Whelford, Gloucestershire |
| Latest arrest | 25‑year‑old dual UK‑Iranian held in Westminster |
| Searches | Two properties in Westminster searched |
Domestic and international reactions
The arrests have attracted attention beyond policing circles. Senior US politicians, including the president, publicly questioned the decision to release some of the suspects on bail. British ministers have been briefed on the investigation and on the intelligence assessment pointing to potential external actors.
Counter‑terrorism sources emphasised that investigative work remains under way and that the complexity of the case means conclusions will not be reached quickly. Specialist units are continuing forensic and intelligence examinations while following up leads across different jurisdictions.
Police urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any information that could assist the inquiry. No charges have yet been filed in connection with the events near RAF Fairford.
As investigators piece together the movements of those arrested and the provenance of the vehicles spotted close to the base, the case will continue to draw scrutiny given the national security implications and the involvement of international partners in the intelligence response.
