The security crackdown around RAF Fairford has intensified after a previous incident involving five men arrested for suspected explosives. In the early hours of Sunday, Westminster police seized three vans near the Gloucestershire airbase, finding petrol but no bombs. The men, all in their twenties and from London, were released on bail despite ongoing investigations. That operation triggered a large‑scale security response at the US‑run base, which hosts American bombers.
Police say the new arrest is part of a broader inquiry into possible foreign state links. The 27‑year‑old UK‑Iranian dual national was taken into custody on Thursday in Westminster, after authorities traced his movements to the same area. A 26‑year‑old British man was also questioned under caution, and two city properties were searched.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter‑terrorism policing, told reporters the investigation is "highly complex" and that multiple angles are being pursued. She added that the team is specifically probing whether a state actor, particularly Iran, is involved.
RAF Fairford has been a strategic asset for US operations in the Middle East, and the base has faced threats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Tehran has denied any role in the incidents, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" of Iranian involvement. The decision to release the initial five suspects on bail has drawn criticism from US officials.
UK police have now broadened the inquiry to include intelligence from international partners. The next phase will see the department reviewing any foreign state connections and potentially coordinating with the US military's own investigations.