British-Iranian man arrested in RAF Fairford investigation

A British-Iranian man, 27, has been arrested in London on suspicion of terrorism offenses, part of an investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford. He was apprehended under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which pertains to preparing terrorist acts. A second man, 26, a UK national, has also been questioned under caution, and two properties have been searched as part of the ongoing investigation.

Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans stated that the investigation is complex, and her teams are examining multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility of foreign state involvement. The public has been thanked for their support and patience during this process. On September 27th, five UK nationals from London were detained following a report of suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford, a base used by the US Air Force.

They were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and preparation of a terrorist act, but have since been released on bail but remain under investigation. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Wednesday that Britain suspects Iran's involvement in the incident. Earlier this year, Britain granted permission for the US Air Force to use RAF Fairford for "defensive" strikes against Iran.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously threatened the UK, warning that military bases used by the US to launch strikes would be legitimate targets.