UK police find no explosives in vehicles of men detained near base used by US
By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent British counterterrorism police have confirmed that no explosives were found in vehicles searched following a major security operation near a strategic air base. The facility is utilized by the United States Air Force to facilitate strikes on Iran. Police Rationale Behind Suspect Releases Laurence Taylor, Britain’s head of […]
British counterterrorism police have concluded that no explosives were found in the vehicles of five men detained near the U.S. Air Force base RAF Fairford. Laurence Taylor, the head of counterterrorism policing, explained the decision to release the suspects on bail. The men, all British nationals in their twenties from London, were arrested on Sunday after three vehicles were seen moving toward the air base.
The operation led to the declaration of a major incident and prompted counterterrorism police to take charge. The arrested individuals were initially held under the Explosives Act and were suspected of preparing a terrorist act. Former director of public prosecutions Max Hill explained that the custody clock for the terrorism arrest had stopped, leading to the release on bail, which is permitted for serious crimes but indicates a lack of sufficient evidence for a formal remand.
The incident has heightened concerns about potential foreign interference, particularly from Iran, as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had warned Britain about the base becoming a legitimate target.
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