Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will chair a Cobra meeting today following the alleged terror attack plot at an RAF base. The move comes after five men were arrested over a plot to carry out a terror attack at RAF Fairford.
Over the weekend, a suspected terror attack on the RAF Fairford was rumbled, with Counter Terror Police making five arrests. Speaking to LBC at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Burnham said he wanted to get the “full picture” on what had happened at the base used by the British and US air forces in Gloucestershire.
PM thanks police and security services
He said: “I want to thank the police, the Gloucestershire Police, the security services, the emergency services, the public who alerted us, so thank you to everybody for the way that they’ve worked.”
“What I can say is that I will chair a meeting of Cobra later this afternoon just to make sure we have the full picture, the full situation very clearly in our sights and so maybe we’ll say more about that later today.”
Five men released on police bail
The five men arrested over RAF Fairford are all British nationals from London, Counter Terrorism Policing said. Three are 24, from Camden, Westminster and Willesden. The others are 23 and 25, both from Westminster.
They were being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and a custody extension was secured until later on Monday, police said. Shortly before 4pm, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing said the men are being released on police bail.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told reporters outside New Scotland Yard: “I can confirm that following extensive interviews and inquiries the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.”
“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others.”
“They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.”
Investigation continues
Amid speculation of Iranian involvement, earlier today a spokesman said: “At this time, we are working to establish the full circumstances of the activity of those arrested, their knowledge and any motivation behind this incident.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.”
“I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I’d like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety.”
She added: “I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly.”
