UK counter-terrorism police probe Iran link to suspected bomb plot at RAF base

Metropolitan Police are investigating whether Iran has a connection to a suspected bomb plot discovered near RAF Fairford, a UK air base in Gloucestershire. Police found explosives on three vans near the base on Sunday. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting cautioned against speculation, urging the public to grant law enforcement agencies time and space to conduct their investigation.

RAF Fairford has been utilized by the US military for launching air strikes on Iran since March, amid the ongoing Middle East war. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would be a legitimate target. Five men were detained after a call to emergency services about three suspicious vehicles heading towards the air base.

Local residents reported the base was on lockdown due to a terror threat. Bomb disposal experts from the army were called to examine the vans, which were found to be three large white ones with their rear doors open. A 400-meter cordon was established around the base, and armed officers guarded the entrance. US President Donald Trump claimed the individuals were attempting to cause significant damage at the base, stating the US and UK had been working together on the incident.

The incident has raised concerns about hostile foreign actions, with Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood accusing Iran and Russia of utilizing proxies to carry out criminal activities on UK soil.