British police release five men arrested over US air base incident on bail, Trump criticizes move, says ‘I wouldn’t do that’ | Today’s news
British police said on Monday that five men arrested near an airbase used by the United States had been released on bail as Washington claimed a “foreign actor” was involved in the suspected bomb plot.
US President Donald Trump said in Washington that he was “surprised that they released them”, adding that “I wouldn’t do that”.
The release of the five – all London-based Britons aged in their 20s – came as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an emergency meeting of top officials to ensure they had the “full picture”.
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The five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives-related offenses and planning a terrorist act under UK counter-terrorism laws.
Donald Trump was surprised by the release because he believed the suspects posed a significant threat, saying, “I wouldn’t do that.”
British police responded by launching a counter-terrorism investigation after receiving reports of suspicious white vans and subsequently arrested five men.
Iran categorically denied any involvement in the alleged plot and condemned the speculation as baseless and malicious.
Although the incident raised safety concerns, authorities said the situation was contained and residents were able to return home, indicating the area is safe.
Read also | A British village has been rocked by an alleged terror plot near a US air base
Earlier, Iran denied being involved in any plot to target the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, south-west England, following a security scare there early on Sunday morning.
Here’s what we know so far:
British counter-terrorism police are investigating after authorities received reports on Sunday of three “suspicious” white vans near an airbase the United States used to bomb Iran.
Police said in their latest update on Monday that the five men arrested, all of whom live in inner London boroughs, had been released on bail.
“This does not mean the investigation is over,” said Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of the counter-terrorism police, adding that all five would be subject to “strict” bail conditions.
He said officers were “looking at it from all possible angles, including that it could be an activity by proxies or individuals, knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”
Police said the men were arrested on suspicion of explosives-related offenses and “preparation of an act of terrorism” under UK counter-terrorism laws.
They were traveling in three suspect vehicles, which have since been subjected to “extensive investigation with the support of military assets and forensic experts”.
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Authorities have not confirmed details of the threat, but bomb disposal experts were seen at the scene.
The Daily Mail and Press Association reported late on Monday that they understood from sources that tests of the materials in the back of the vans had shown they were not “viable explosives”.
A farmer living in the village of Whelford, near the airbase, said she called the police after seeing vans blocking the road and a group of masked men.
An anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed police had “dropped the ball” on the threat.
But British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the farmer only had a “partial picture”.
– Iran denies involvement –
Trump said on Sunday that Britain and the United States had the suspects “under investigation” for some time and allegedly “wanted to do a lot of damage to our fortress.”
After hearing news of their bail, Trump said Monday that the case “may be related” to Iran, but declined to elaborate.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor”, without providing further details.
Iran’s embassy in London told X that it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” the “baseless and malicious speculation” that Tehran is involved in.
In March, Britain gave the United States permission to use the Fairford for “specific defense operations into Iran” to destroy Iranian missiles at the source.
American bombers and other aircraft have since been seen taking off and landing from the base – the only one on the British mainland used for this purpose.
Residents of the rural Cotswolds area around Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, has seen increased activity and security in recent months.
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Authorities evacuated about 85 households from the village early on Sunday and were allowed to return home the next day.
Tehran has previously warned London not to allow its bases to be used by the United States in operations against Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London of “endangering British lives” by allowing the bases to be used “for aggression against Iran”.
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