Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” Iran played a part in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford. The UK is working closely with the US and the authorities have the situation under “the strongest grip”, the Prime Minister insisted after Donald Trump criticised the decision to release the suspects.
Arrests and bail
Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the military base over the weekend before being bailed under investigation on Monday. Counter-terror police have said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert near the airbase.
Asked about the case in a series of broadcast interviews on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said: “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but it remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation.”
US reaction
Asked about the US president’s disappointment over the release of the suspects, he told the BBC: “The authorities have this under, as I say, the strongest grip and the closest control, and I can assure you of that.” Speaking to Sky News, he said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to recall Parliament over the incident if necessary. He chaired an emergency Cobra meeting during Labour Party conference earlier this week.
Mr Trump appeared unaware of Mr Burnham’s comments when asked at a White House event if the US planned any response against Tehran. The president said: “Did they say Iran played a role?” He added: “We’re studying it. We’re studying it very hard. Iran’s got a lot of problems right now.”
Investigation and local impact
Head of UK counter-terrorism policing assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said on Tuesday that a police response was activated in the early hours of Sunday “due to a range of information that we received”. Mr Taylor said the five suspects released on bail “remain under investigation” and “must adhere to very strict conditions”.
Villagers living near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, dozens of whom were dramatically evacuated from their homes on Sunday morning, were slowly returning to normal on Tuesday. Police cordons near the base are expected to be completely lifted on Wednesday, and searches of the London homes of the five suspects are complete.
Potential involvement by Iran was understood to be one line of inquiry for British investigators, and the nation has used proxies in the past to carry out acts in the UK. But its London embassy fiercely denied any involvement in the events in Gloucestershire.
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Rubio said: “It’s one that clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor. I won’t get into great detail about that yet.” The five suspects, all UK nationals, are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; and a 23-year-old, two 24-year-olds and a 25-year-old from Westminster, central London. Police would not confirm when they are due to answer bail.
