UK police probes Iran link to air base bomb scare: media

Five UK men, aged between 23 and 25, have been detained at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, following a bomb scare. The individuals were all UK nationals and were held on suspicion of offenses under anti-terrorism laws. The men, all based in London, were detained early Sunday after a tip-off that three large white vans had been seen heading towards the base.

The tip-off came from a local farmer who had reportedly seen a group of masked and hooded men entering the fields. While US President Donald Trump claimed the suspects aimed to cause "big damage" and were under investigation by British and US authorities, British counter-terror police have provided little detail on the suspects.

However, a source familiar with the investigation suggested an Iranian-linked motive was the most likely scenario, alongside potential Russian sabotage or terrorism plots. Defence Minister Wes Streeting declined to speculate about the motives but emphasized the ongoing threat from Iran, stating that Iran and its proxies seek to harm the UK and its allies.

In May, Britain had sanctioned 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran for their involvement in hostile activities. The base had been cordoned off, with a 400-meter exclusion zone and the evacuation of 85 homes. A bomb disposal robot was seen operating around the vans, and security was heightened around the base and other US military facilities in the UK.