RAF Fairford incident: UK arrests dual British-Iranian national on suspicion of terror plot | What we know | Today’s news
British counter-terrorism police arrested a 27-year-old dual British-Iranian national in connection with a “major incident” at RAF Fairford in southwest England on September 27, the BBC reported.
The man was arrested on Thursday in Westminster, central London, on suspicion of “preparing acts of terrorism”, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
The second Briton was questioned but not arrested. Police also searched two properties in Westminster, according to the report.
The arrest marks a new development in the investigation into the incident at the Royal Air Force base, which has sparked an investigation into possible links to Iran.
What happened at RAF Fairford?
Police were called to RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds early on Sunday after a nearby farmer reported seeing vans blocking the road and a group of masked men, according to the BBC.
The incident prompted the evacuation of a nearby village and led authorities to declare a “major incident”.
Police had earlier arrested five London-based British men, all in their 20s, at the scene and searched several vehicles. The five were released on bail on Monday.
Their release drew criticism from Washington, and US President Donald Trump said he was surprised by the decision.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Trump told reporters, according to The Hill.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also claimed that a “foreign actor” was involved in the incident, adding to speculation about who may have been behind the events at the air base, according to The Hill.
The British Prime Minister points to a possible connection with Iran
The latest arrests came after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC there were “strong indications that Iran played a role in what happened at RAF Fairford at the weekend”.
The US military uses the airbase and has been involved in operations related to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Read also | British police found fuel but no explosives at the scene in Fairford
However, the investigation is still ongoing and authorities have not publicly established the full circumstances of the incident or confirmed the extent of any Iranian involvement.
Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel warned Britain
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further claimed that Israel had warned Britain of a possible Iranian-sponsored plot before the British government announced sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on September 8, according to Fox News.
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Netanyahu said that Israel had provided British authorities with information about the planned attack.
“We gave the British information that there was going to be an attack, and it was an Iranian-sponsored attack,” Netanyahu said.
He linked the warning to the timing of the subsequent announcement of British sanctions, although this claim has not been independently proven.
(With input from agencies)
