Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating whether Iran is behind a suspected car-bomb plot targeting an RAF base. Armed officers arrested five men, seen travelling in three vans, after an apparent tip from a member of the public.
Trump warns of 'big damage' plot
President Donald Trump warned the suspected attackers wanted to do “big damage”, adding that they were “under investigation” for “a long time”. Scotland Yard and MI5, alongside American intelligence officers, were last night trying to pinpoint whether Tehran orchestrated the conspiracy to kill American troops stationed at RAF Fairford.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned in July it would not allow US bombers to fly from Fairford, saying any base used to launch attacks would be a legitimate target.
Arrests and evacuation
The five suspects were initially arrested on suspicion of “committing offences under the Explosives Act”. They were then re-arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. The men were stripped down to their torsos amid fears they may have also been wearing suicide vests.
A police source told the Daily Express: "This was intelligence led policing, pure and simple. There has been a lot of covert activity in the background." Bomb disposal teams were deployed to examine the devices found in the three vans, with some 85 families evacuated from their homes to a nearby leisure centre during the operation. A robot from the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team moved between the three parked vans, with what appeared to be large black barrels outside the vehicle.
Motives and local concerns
Police are examining several possible motives, including that the network was carrying out orders on behalf of Tehran or Moscow, or that it was an Islamist terror plot. President Trump declared: “We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”
RAF Fairford had been a staging post for US long-range bomber jets during combat operations in Iran. A terrified resident in Whelford, Glocs, alerted police after seeing a “large group of hooded and ‘balaclava’d’ men” near the airbase in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The farmer, who asked not to be named, said: "I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past. Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base. We realised this was something pretty serious. We knew the air base had a credible threat of a terrorist attack before last night. So as soon as I saw them I was worried."
One of the vans examined by bomb-disposal teams was emblazoned with “FUEL 2YOU”, on the side in red lettering, with a phone number. But there is almost no public record of such a company. A company with a similar name, Fuel 2U, confirmed to the Daily Express that they owned two vans, and both were in their depot in London. It creates the possibility that the alleged attackers were trying to blend in by posing as a fuel delivery company.
The company said in a statement: “We want to make it absolutely clear that neither the vehicle nor any of the individuals involved has any connection whatsoever with Fuel2U, its directors, employees or current business operations. We are extremely concerned that our company’s name has been used without our knowledge or permission. We are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and will assist them with any enquiries.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham admitted the “incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.” He added: “The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe. The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
