Five men suspected of preparing a terrorist act at RAF Fairford were detained

Last weekend, five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act at RAF Fairford. The intervention took place on the night from Saturday to Sunday. Police received reports of a "group of masked men wearing hoods" moving near the base, which is used by the US Air Force to attack Iran.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC that "there are strong indications that Iran played a role in what happened over the weekend." He also added that the investigation is being conducted in close cooperation with American partners.

Previously, British media – including "The Times", Sky News and "Daily Telegraph" suggested, citing anonymous police sources, that according to investigators, the most likely hypothesis was that Iran was involved in organizing the attack.

Suspects under surveillance, investigation ongoing

Those detained are three 24-year-olds from the London boroughs of Camden, Westminster and Willesden, and men aged 23 and 25 from Westminster. Initially, they were arrested on suspicion of violating the Explosives Act, but accusations quickly emerged of preparing an act of terrorism.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, the suspects were released on bail, but - as the Prime Minister assures - they were subject to the most stringent release conditions.

The police reported that no explosives were found in the vans probably used by the detainees, although a certain amount of gasoline was seized. The investigation is ongoing and the services do not rule out further arrests.

International reactions: Trump and Rubio comment

The case also received wide coverage in the United States. US President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the decision to release the suspects, emphasizing that they could have caused serious damage. In turn, the head of US diplomacy, Marco Rubio, directly stated on Fox News that "obviously" someone from abroad was involved in the event.

RAF Fairford – a strategic point on the map

RAF Fairford is used by the US Air Force for operations against Iran. It is this strategic nature of the base that makes any attempted attack cause concern in both London and Washington.