UK police arrest British Iranian man over RAF Fairford terror plot

British counter-terrorism police have arrested a dual UK-Iranian national in London as part of a widening investigation into a security incident near RAF Fairford, a military air base in western England that has been used by the United States to launch missions against Iran. The development follows days of escalating diplomatic tensions, high-level intelligence claims, and scrutiny over the initial handling of the case by British authorities.

The sequence of events began on Sunday, 27 September 2026, when a major incident was declared in the village of Whelford near RAF Fairford. Police launched a massive operation in the early hours following a range of information, which included a call from a local farmer who spotted three suspicious vans and masked men near the base, alongside reports that one of the suspects had also dialled 999. The operation prompted the evacuation of eighty-five households, roadblocks, and the deployment of an army bomb squad to inspect the vehicles.

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Police arrest UK-Iranian man in British airbase plot probe

Detectives subsequently confirmed that although petrol was found in the vans, no improvised explosive device was present. Five British men in their twenties from London were detained at the scene. They were initially held on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. However, on Monday, 28 September 2026, all five men were released without charge on police bail, described by investigators as an investigative decision grounded in experience and strategy.

The swift release sparked immediate friction with Washington. As reported by Abc News, US President Donald Trump criticized the decision, stating that he would not have released the suspects and asserting that those involved had planned big damage. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to the hands of a foreign actor. In response, Prime Minister Andy Burnham insisted that the authorities maintained the strongest grip and closest control over the situation, noting that the suspects were freed only under stringent bail conditions regarding their movement and contact.

Adding a new international dimension to the probe, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had tipped off British authorities about an Iranian-sponsored attack ahead of the incident. Meanwhile, UK political leaders openly aligned the security scare with geopolitical flashpoints surrounding the base. RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for US bombers following a previous decision by former prime minister Keir Starmer to grant permission for defensive strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war.

The investigation intensified on Thursday, 1 October 2026, and Friday, 2 October 2026, when counter-terrorism officers arrested a dual UK-Iranian national in the borough of Westminster. Sources provided differing ages for the sixth suspect, with Yalibnan reporting his age as 25, while India Today, ABC News, and The Straits Times recorded him as 27. Officers also questioned a second British man, aged 26, under caution and executed searches at two properties in Westminster.

Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans stated that the inquiry remains hugely complex and that specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of inquiry, maintaining that authorities are examining all possible angles, including foreign state involvement. Prime Minister Burnham subsequently told broadcasters that there are strong indications that Iran played a part in the weekend events.

Tehran has vehemently denied the allegations. According to Yalibnan and India Today, the Iranian government dismissed the accusations as baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to lodge a formal protest. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the UK leadership on social media, writing that British officials were barking up the wrong tree and condemning the release of suspects linked to foreign states.

As security services continue examining seized materials and digital evidence from the London properties, local residents and international allies await further clarity on the precise nature of the threat. The five previously bailed men remain under active investigation while police evaluate the unfolding multi-agency intelligence picture.