Five men arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire over a suspected terror plot have been released on police bail, with investigators considering “every possible angle” including the possible use of proxies by a hostile state. The material found in three vans was not viable explosives, according to the Press Association.
The suspects, all British nationals from London, were arrested on Sunday near the base, which is used by the US. They include a 24-year-old from Camden; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster; and a 24-year-old from Willesden. Their arrest on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism followed the discovery of the vans.
Police statement on bail and ongoing investigation
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Monday, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “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.”
Hostile state angle considered
Acknowledging speculation over whether Iran was behind the plot, Mr Taylor said police are keeping an open mind and added: “Be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.”
Iran, and other hostile states including Russia, has been known to use criminal proxies to carry out crimes on its behalf on UK soil. Iran's embassy in London earlier said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” of Iranian involvement, reports The Express.
Mr Taylor said: “I also know there is significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident. At Counter Terrorism Policing, we are working within this context every single day and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.
“We have, as you would expect, ensured that our protective security advice and posture remain commensurate to the threat.”
Community returns to normality
A large cordon had been in place near RAF Fairford, with dozens of homes evacuated while bomb disposal experts examined the vans. Following a fuller understanding of the situation, the plan was to return affected communities to normality as quickly as possible and reduce the size of the cordon. Evacuated residents were told on Monday evening that they could return to their homes.
In a statement, temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth thanked the local community for their “continued support and assistance during what has been an unprecedented couple of days”. She said Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and urged people to “avoid speculation while these inquiries continue”.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump told reporters the suspects were looking to “do big damage”. He later expressed surprise at their release but praised UK police, saying: “They’ve been very good. They worked with us very closely.” He added of the suspects: “We know everything about them. We would not have released them.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was holding a Cobra meeting on Monday “to make sure we have the full picture”, he told LBC. Afterwards, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, said: “What we can say at this stage is that the response of our policing, counter-terrorism policing and security services has been exemplary.
“The investigation remains ongoing.” He added: “Those investigations remain live and I can reassure the public who will be interested and want further information of two things: the first is that those five individuals are under stringent bail conditions and, secondly, that we remain with a live investigation and keeping the situation constantly under review.”
