A seventh man has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences related to the suspected RAF Fairford terror plot. The 22-year-old British man was arrested in London today (October 6), according to Counter Terrorism Policing.
The arrest comes after six other suspects were arrested and released on bail at the end of September. The investigation centres on events near the US-used airbase in Gloucestershire.
Farmer's alert led to evacuations
Dozens of villagers living near RAF Fairford were dramatically evacuated from their homes on September 27 after a farmer alerted police and warned neighbours when she spotted several men “hanging around” on a rural lane close to the base.
The woman, described as a “hero farmer”, called 999 and used WhatsApp to alert people in the surrounding area after discovering three vans blocking a road near the Gloucestershire base. The farmer, from nearby Whelford, told the press she dialled 999 at around 1.36am.
Live investigation continues
Six suspects had already been arrested and released on bail after three suspicious vans were stopped near the airbase on Sunday September 27. However, a seventh man has now been arrested by police investigating the suspected terror plot.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford.
“Once again, I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this highly complex investigation.
“We’re acutely aware of the public interest in this investigation, and we are working around the clock, and at pace, to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire. We remain committed to investigating all possible angles.”
