U.K. arrests 7th man on suspicion of terrorism over air base incident

British authorities arrested a 22-year-old British man in London on Tuesday, suspected of a terror offense related to a security incident at a U.S.-run military air base in England. This arrest marked the seventh in connection with a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, located 100 miles west of London, a site utilized by American bombers for strikes on Iran during the ongoing conflict.

The suspect, a British national, was detained in central London's Westminster area on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Six other men previously arrested as part of the investigation have been released on bail, under investigation, and under monitoring. President Trump criticized the decision to release the six men, stating that Iran might be involved in the incident.

Scores of residents near the base were evacuated early on September 27 when armed police and army bomb-disposal experts conducted searches. Police found gasoline in three vans linked to the suspects, but no explosives. Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated that the U.K. had strong indications of Iran's involvement, though he did not elaborate on the specifics.

Iran has denied any role in the incident, maintaining that any base used to attack its territory is a legitimate target. The U.S. recently relocated its B-52 and B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, though the connection to the arrests remains unclear. Trump expressed concern about tempting the enemy by keeping the bombers stationed there, citing a perceived threat attributed to Iran without providing further details.