British-Iranian man arrested over the RAF Fairford incident

British counter-terrorism police apprehended a 25-year-old man of dual British and Iranian heritage in London on Thursday, suspected of preparing terrorist acts, following an incident on Sunday near RAF Fairford, an airbase in western England utilized by the United States Air Force. The arrest occurred in Westminster, where two residences were subjected to searches.

An initial report indicated the detained individual was 27 years old, and a second person had been questioned, but these details were subsequently rectified. Five men, all British nationals aged 23 to 25 and residing in London, were initially detained on Sunday near the base and are currently under police bail without any charges.

The five were apprehended in the early hours following reports of three suspicious vehicles approaching the base, first suspected of possessing explosives and subsequently suspected of preparing a terrorist act. Evidence of petrol, but no explosive devices, was discovered in the vans in the vicinity. According to the BBC, one of the suspects had phoned emergency services an hour prior to a local resident reporting a group of masked individuals.

"The investigation is enormously intricate," stated Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, emphasizing that "all feasible avenues, including foreign state involvement," are being explored. Prime Minister Andy Burnham disclosed on Wednesday that there were "strong indications" Iran had "played a role" in the events, although he declined to provide specifics and highlighted that the inquiry was ongoing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi countered Burnham's assertion, labeling it "barking up the wrong tree," and Iran denied any involvement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had commented on Monday that the culprits were "agents of a foreign entity," without offering evidence. Washington criticized the release on bail, but Burnham justified it by citing the stringent conditions imposed.

RAF Fairford has been utilized by the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, bombers have departed from there for the Middle East following the British government's approval for defensive strikes on Iran.