Five men arrested over a suspected bomb plot against RAF Fairford may have been conducting a “dry run” before the actual operation, a former counter-terrorism officer has said.
The British nationals were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism in the early hours of Sunday after three vans were found near the Gloucestershire base, which hosts the US Air Force and has been used by the American military to carry out strikes against Iran.
All five men, from London and aged between 23 and 25, were released on bail under “stringent conditions” on Monday.
Hostile reconnaissance possibility
One former counter-terrorism officer told The Telegraph that detectives would be looking into whether the suspects were taking part in a “dry run” when they were arrested in the village of Whelford, close to the base.
He said: “One possibility is that this was a hostile reconnaissance operation and they were carrying out a dry run before the actual operation. That might explain why the police do not appear to have found anything such as explosives in the vehicles.”
The officer added: “The barrels that were removed look like they might have been empty, so police will want to know whether they were checking out the lay of the land. If so, then these chance arrests were very fortunate indeed.”
Investigation continues
Around 85 households were evacuated and a 400-metre cordon was put in place around the scene as bomb disposal experts examined the three vans. It is understood the material found was not viable explosives.
The head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing said investigators are considering “every possible angle”, including the use of proxies by a hostile state.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Monday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the five men who were arrested “absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the suspected terror plot “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”. He told Fox News: “I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is we are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally.”
The top diplomat refused to provide further details and thanked the “very cooperative and very helpful” British authorities.
Reaction and aftermath
His comments came after President Trump said the alleged plot “might be” linked to Iran, adding: “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.”
Tehran’s embassy in London said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” of Iranian involvement.
Evacuated Whelford residents have since returned to their homes and the cordon has also been lifted.
