The Prime Minister has said there are “strong indications” that Iran played a part in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, where five Londoners have been arrested and bailed.
Speaking at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, Andy Burnham said: “We believe so. There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation.”
He added: “Of course, we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America. So it's ongoing. I have held a Cobra meeting as I've been here at the Conference in Liverpool. We are on top of it in every possible way imaginable. Police in Gloucestershire, our counter-terrorism police, have done an outstanding job. I thank them for that. We will say more in due course, but we can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part.”
Five Londoners arrested and bailed
Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the military base over the weekend before being bailed under investigation on Monday. The suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; and a 23-year-old, two 24-year-olds and a 25-year-old from Westminster, central London.
Asked about the bailing of the five, a move criticised by Donald Trump, the Prime Minister explained: “People need to understand that you know when it says released, that isn't as people might think. It's obviously with the strictest possible bail conditions.” He added: “I have complete confidence in the way British security services are handling this.”
US involvement and investigation details
Donald Trump’s administration has said it believes a foreign actor was involved in the suspected plot that was “foiled” at the weekend. Speaking to Fox News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “It's one that clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor. I won’t get into great detail about that yet.”
Counter-terror police have said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert near the airbase. Police cordons near the base are expected to be completely lifted on Wednesday, and searches of the London homes of the five suspects are complete.
The Gloucestershire site has been used in recent months by American bombers after Sir Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war. Iran’s London embassy has fiercely denied any involvement in the events in Gloucestershire.
Mr Trump said on Monday that the alleged plot “might be” linked to Iran, and added: “I will tell you, I would have said ‘Don’t let them have bail’. I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that.” Mr Rubio added: “I know a lot of people are disturbed by the news that some of these people have been released on bail, as some of the people are being investigated, and obviously we’re engaging with them on all of that.” Police would not confirm when the five are due to answer bail.
