Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has thanked the member of the public who helped alert emergency services to a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford, saying she acted “quickly and thoughtfully.”
Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after armed police stopped three vans travelling to the military airbase used by US bombers. A local farmer called the police after spotting three white vans on a country road and a group of men in balaclavas while driving back from a party in the early hours.
Streeting praises public and security services
Asked by Sky News whether the suspected plot was only uncovered due to the farmer, Mr Streeting said: “This is challenging because I can’t comment on the specifics of operations and security.
“But what I do want to say is, firstly, thank you to that member of the public. She has done exactly what we hope someone in that extraordinary situation would do.
“But I’m really grateful to her. I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing.”
Warning over ‘partial picture’
He added: “With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture, and that’s as far as I wish to go this morning.”
Mr Streeting also emphasised his thanks to the police and security services, saying: “Their work often takes place unsung, unreported, for good reason, but they keep us safe throughout the year across this country and throughout the world, and we should be enormously grateful to them.”
Iran link under investigation
Counter terror police are understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to the suspected terror plot.
Mr Streeting said: “It would be very unwise of me to speculate on the potential motives of these individuals at this stage.
“What I can assure the public of, though, is that as this investigation unfolds, we will, in the normal way, say more about the individuals, their backgrounds and potential motivations. But there’s the investigation underway.”
