UK police rearrest two men on suspicion of aiding Iranian intelligence over RAF Fairford
In short
British counterterrorism police said two men were rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service over a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run base in England. The men, aged 24 and 25, had earlier been bailed. Police said it is highly likely that there was Iranian state involvement.
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British police said on Tuesday that they had rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service over the suspected plot at RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run air base in England. Counter Terrorism Policing said the men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national, were arrested under the National Security Act. AP reported that they had been arrested earlier but bailed pending more investigation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the U.K., said detectives are looking at many lines of enquiry in what he called a hugely complex investigation. He said it is very much a live investigation and evidence gathering continues, but that police's position remains the same: they consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement. He added that investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it. [ 2 , 3 ]
Police are investigating a suspected terror plot on Sept. 27 against the base in western England, which AP said has been used to bomb Iran during this year's war. CNN said U.S. B-1 bombers were based there. Scores of residents were evacuated from their homes as armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts swarmed the area. Police later said they had found a quantity of gasoline, an accelerant, in three vans at the site, but no explosives. [ 2 , 3 ]
AP reported that British authorities have linked Tehran to the incident, which led the U.S. to pull its bombers from RAF Fairford. Five other men arrested earlier remain on bail, and no one has yet been charged. CNN reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that the suspected plot was almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, and that Iran has firmly rejected the accusations. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
British police say they consider Iranian state involvement highly likely in the incident, which AP reports led the U.S. to pull its bombers from the base. No one has been charged, and the investigation is continuing.
Key facts
- Counter Terrorism Policing said it rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The men are a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national. [ 2 , 3 ]
- They were arrested under the National Security Act and had earlier been bailed pending more investigation. [ 2 ]
- Police are investigating a suspected terror plot on Sept. 27 against the U.S.-run base at RAF Fairford in western England. [ 2 ]
- Five other men arrested earlier remain on bail, and no one has yet been charged. [ 2 ]
- Laurence Taylor of National Counter Terrorism Policing said police consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police rearrested a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service in connection with the RAF Fairford incident. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Laurence Taylor said the investigation is live, evidence gathering continues, and police consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The level of Iranian involvement and the ambition behind the suspected plot. Taylor said investigators are still examining what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it (AP).
- Whether anyone will be charged. AP reports that no one has yet been charged; the two men and five others remain under investigation or on bail.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham's statement that the plot was almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, and Iran's rejection of the accusations. Only CNN reports these; the other documents do not mention them.