British Counterterrorism Investigation Links to Possible Iran Plot

British counterterrorism authorities are currently probing potential connections to Iran regarding a suspected bombing plan targeting a Royal Air Force base that the United States has utilized during military actions against the Iranian regime.

UPDATE 1935: U.S. President Donald Trump expressed enthusiasm over the arrests of individuals believed to be terrorists, describing them as “fantastic” and praising the collaboration with Britain as “amazing.”

He stated, “We had them under investigation; they were looking to do big damage to our fort and working with the British worked out great… We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”

The original story continues as follows…

On Sunday, officials declared a significant incident, prompting the evacuation of 85 households near the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. This followed the arrest of five men in the early morning hours on suspected explosives-related charges.

The police detained these individuals in three different vans after a local resident reported them as suspicious. They now face further charges related to preparing for a terrorist attack.

A report from The Times of London indicates that counterterrorism detectives are investigating the possibility of Iranian involvement, given the base’s connection to America’s Operation Epic Fury earlier this year.

Even though former UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer initially denied the Trump administration access to British military bases for actions against Iran, he later agreed in March to permit U.S. forces to use these bases for “defensive purposes” linked to the Iran situation.

RAF Fairford reportedly served as a launch site for four American bombers, which targeted Iranian missile installations involved in attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In reaction, the Iran-backed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any base supporting U.S. operations could be regarded as a legitimate target for retaliation.

Nevertheless, authorities have emphasized that the inquiry is still in the early phases. They are also looking into whether non-state actors might have been involved in the attempted attack on the air base.

Vicki Evans, national co-ordinator at Counter Terrorism Policing, commented on the situation, saying, “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and the five men remain in custody. As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.”

She added, “We continue to work with Gloucestershire police to ensure community safety while gathering evidence from the scene. A 400-meter cordon is in place around the vehicles as the army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit conducts examinations. Approximately 85 households have been evacuated as a precaution during these investigations.”

Richard Ocone, assistant chief constable at Gloucestershire police, noted, “The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents. A cordon is in place as a precaution, and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time.”

He mentioned that a nearby leisure center has been opened to provide a safe space for evacuated individuals who are unable to stay with friends or family. Ocone thanked the residents for their understanding and support during the disruption, assuring them that efforts are being made to allow them to return home as soon as possible. He urged the public not to speculate and to rely on official sources for updates.

Due to its close ties with the United States, the United Kingdom has long been a prime target for terrorists linked to the Iranian regime.

In the past year, MI5’s Director General, Ken McCallum, revealed that British authorities responded to 20 Iranian-backed terror plots against Britain and its citizens between January 2022 and October 2024.

The U.S. Air Force stated that personnel at RAF Fairford will maintain vigilance, though they mentioned that for “operational security reasons” they would not disclose specific protective measures. “We constantly assess various factors to determine the measures we implement or adjust to protect our installations, our personnel, and their families,” they added.