Five arrested over alleged terror plot at UK air base, suspects linked to Iran

Five men have been arrested in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting a U.S.-operated air base in Britain, according to The Guardian. The suspects, all linked to Iran, were apprehended on suspicion of terrorism offenses. The plot was uncovered after a passerby reported suspicious behavior by a group of men in a rural area and alerted the police.

During the operation, five vans were found, and investigators initially believed they contained improvised explosive devices. The suspect vehicles included one with the logo of a fuel company and a phone number with a missing digit. The legitimate fuel company strongly denied any involvement, stating that their name had been used without permission.

Counterterrorism police and security services are currently investigating a possible motive, with early indications suggesting Iran may be connected to the plot. British officials are considering Iran as one of the main lines of inquiry, though they have not ruled out other possibilities. The incident has the potential to escalate tensions between Britain and Tehran if proven.

President Donald Trump had previously mentioned that suspects in the alleged plot had been under surveillance for some time, alleging they planned to cause significant damage to the air base, which is utilized by the U.S. military.