Terror suspects arrested near British air base used by U.S. released on bail

LONDON — Police have arrested five British nationals in connection with a massive security operation near a base used by the U.S. Air Force to facilitate strikes on Iran, the counterterrorism officials running the operation said Monday.

The five men, all from London and in their early to mid-20s, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after three suspicious vehicles were seen moving toward RAF Fairford, a royal air force station about 90 minutes west of London. Dozens of homes were evacuated in the early morning and a large emergency presence was seen around the installation, shaking the normally quiet area in rural Cotswolds.

But after “extensive interviews and inquiries,” the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said Monday that they had been released on bail, adding that “does not mean that the investigation is over.”

“They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others,” he added.

Earlier, a local farmer recounted how she had seen a “large group of hooded and masked men” early Sunday.

“When they saw me they ran ahead of me — some into the field and some towards the neighboring village,” the farmer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC News on Monday. “I then realized that something highly unusual was taking place.”

Asked if British authorities knew of the threat ahead of time or only became aware after being called by a concerned farmer as has been reported, Defense Minister Wes Streeting told broadcaster Sky News on Monday that the member of the public “did the right thing” and acted quickly.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to chair an emergency meeting later on Monday.

A grainy image has also emerged appearing to show the suspects.

The photo, which began circulating on social media Sunday morning, shows five men sitting on the ground shirtless and apparently handcuffed. They are flanked by armed officers.

The image was geolocated to near RAF Fairford by NBC News. NBC News could not locate the original source of the photo.

Another image showing three white vans near the air base has also circulated online.

Fuel2U, a U.K. fuel delivery company, said in a statement that a version of its logo appeared on one of the vehicles, adding that neither the vehicle nor any of the individuals involved has any connection to it.

“We are extremely concerned that our company’s name has been used without our knowledge or permission,” the statement said.

After the operation prompted questions about a possible link to Iran, the country’s embassy in London denied the country was involved.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base,” it said in a statement on X.

In March, then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave permission for the U.S. to use its bases for “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran.

In July, Iran’s ⁠Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Britain that “any base used to facilitate aggression against Iranian territory is considered a legitimate target,” Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported, specifically citing bomber aircraft flights taking off from Fairford.

However, Taylor, the head of counterterrorism, said there was “significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident.” Investigators, he added, were “considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.”

Tristan Wilkinson, a member of the local council, told NBC News that a threat to the base from Iran earlier this summer had heightened the alert level in the community and led to a ramped-up police presence and increased security patrols.

Asked about a possible connection to Iran on Sunday, President Donald Trump told reporters: “We know all about them, and you’ll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them.”

Trump said in separate comments Sunday that the arrests were an “amazing job.”

“They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great,” he said. “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”

Burnham urged people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.