UK releases five men arrested near US-operated air base amid terror probe

Counterterrorism police are investigating whether the suspects were acting for a foreign state as Iran denies any link to the incident near the base used by U.S. bombers.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — British counterterrorism police are releasing five London men arrested near a military base used by the United States to launch strikes against Iran, while investigating whether the suspected attack involved a foreign state.The men, all British nationals in their 20s, were arrested Sunday near Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, about 350 meters from an access gate.Police detained them on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.Armed officers later examined three vans with bomb-disposal robots after suspected explosive devices were found inside.Counter Terrorism Policing said Monday the men were released on police bail after extensive interviews and inquiries.They remain under investigation and face strict conditions on their movement and contact with others.Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor told reporters outside New Scotland Yard in London, “We are considering this from every angle.”He said police are examining whether the incident involved “proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would chair an emergency meeting Monday to assess the incident and ensure the government had a full picture of the situation.Tip-off from a local farmerThe arrests followed a report of suspicious vehicles near the base early Sunday.A local farmer, who chose to remain anonymous, said she alerted police after finding vans blocking a road. The woman, in her 50s, was returning from a party with her husband and a young farm worker when they saw vehicles parked in what she called a “really strange formation.”She said one van had unusual lettering and initially appeared to belong to undercover police. Finding no one inside, she called the number displayed on the vehicle but could not reach anyone.Police later evacuated residents from a nearby village while officers examined the vehicles and secured the area.Taylor said the three vehicles underwent extensive examination with help from military and forensic specialists. Police remained at the scene Monday with a cordon still in place.Trump praises response as security concerns emergeThe military base hosts U.S. Air Force operations and has been used by American bombers during the war with Iran. It is owned by the U.K. Ministry of Defence but supports U.S. military operations.Speaking to reporters Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said, “We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great."Trump’s comments raised questions about how much U.S. authorities knew before the arrests and how the five men got so close to the base, with the suspected plot apparently disrupted only after a member of the public alerted police.British counterterrorism officials have not publicly confirmed Trump’s account. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also did not confirm U.K.-U.S. intelligence cooperation in the case, instead praising security services and police and calling it a “proud moment” to see the U.S. president recognize their work.Iran denies involvement in plotThe Iranian Embassy in London denied any connection to the arrests, calling suggestions linking Tehran to the incident unfounded and saying such claims would fuel what it described as “Iranophobia propaganda” in the U.K.Iran has previously said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.In March, an Iranian drone struck the British airbase RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, causing limited damage, while two others were shot down before reaching the base.The strike came hours before then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to let U.S. forces use British bases, including RAF Fairford, for what he called a “specific and limited defensive purpose” against Iranian missiles.Local lawmaker raises safety concernsRoz Savage, a centrist Liberal Democrat lawmaker, whose South Cotswolds constituency includes RAF Fairford, said she had repeatedly questioned the government about the safety of residents since the base was selected for U.S. military strikes against Iran.“I feel that the events of this weekend do cast that into doubt,” Savage said on Monday. “It actually makes my blood run cold when I think how close we may have come to disaster this weekend.”The U.S. Embassy in London has also issued a security warning to American citizens in Britain, urging them to remain cautious and mindful of their personal security.The investigation continues, and no charges have been announced against the five men.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Categories / InternationalSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads