New twist in Fairford airbase mystery as suspect ‘called 999 himself’

A suspect in the recent arrests at RAF Fairford airbase has come forward to call the UK’s 999 emergency service himself, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. The incident has now been linked to at least five strands of inquiry, ranging from the suspects being petrol smugglers to alleged Iran proxies attempting to sabotage a US airbase.

The five men, all in their twenties, were arrested outside the airbase used by US bombers in the Iran conflict but have been released on bail while still under investigation.

One of the suspects reportedly dialed 999 but the reason for this call remains unclear. This call was made at least an hour before another 999 was received from a farmer who had noticed the vans and masked men at 1am as she returned home from a party. The timing and intent behind the first caller's action remain a mystery. It is unclear whether the suspect was aware he had inadvertently aided in a terror plot, was attempting to create panic among authorities, or was even trying to lure police into a potential ambush.

The rapid response of armed police to the farmer's call, but not to the suspect's, is also under investigation.

Investigators are also looking into whether the suspects were on a reconnaissance mission or a dry run for an attack. It is possible that they were evaluating security weaknesses and potential entry points for a planned attack on the 470-hectare site. The suspect's motive could range from being foot soldiers in a terrorist or criminal operation to unwitting pawns in an operation by a hostile state, most likely Iran, though Russia is also a possibility.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested foreign actors were "clearly" involved at Fairford, leading Washington officials to raise the possibility of Iran.

British police are probing the possibility of the suspects being fuel thieves in a time of soaring fuel prices. The three vans involved, a number suggesting a high-profile operation, were used to carry siphoned fuel. While the men may fit the profile of a terrorist team, detectives are still uncertain whether they were involved in such an operation.