UK-Iranian national arrested in RAF Fairford investigation released on bail

A UK-Iranian dual national, arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with a mysterious incident near RAF Fairford, has been released on bail, counter-terrorism police announced on Saturday. The 25-year-old was apprehended in central London on Thursday as part of an investigation into events that transpired near the RAF base in Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Earlier this week, five other men arrested for suspected explosives and terrorism offenses near the airbase were also released on bail. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has suggested "strong indications that Iran played a part" in the incident, a claim Iran has firmly denied. However, the specifics of the threat posed near the RAF base, operated by the US military in its ongoing conflict with Iran, remain unclear.

Police were initially dispatched to the base on Sunday after reports of suspicious white vans heading towards it, resulting in the evacuation of a nearby village and the declaration of a major incident. Subsequent police investigations revealed no explosives at the scene. Confounding the situation further, British media reported that one of the initial suspects tipped off authorities about the incident, although police have not confirmed these claims.

Washington has further complicated the matter by criticizing the release of the suspects on bail and asserting the involvement of a hostile state in the investigation early on. "The investigation into the circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is continuing," UK police affirmed in a statement on Saturday.