{
  "id": 10438327,
  "title": "5 men held over bomb scare at England base used by US to attack Iran are UK nationals: police",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/5-men-held-over-bomb-scare-at-england-base-used-by-us-to-attack-iran",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T12:11:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033256/5-men-held-over-bomb-scare-at-england-base-used-by-us-to-attack-iran-are-uk-nationals-police"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Five UK men, aged between 23 and 25, have been detained at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, following a bomb scare. The individuals were all UK nationals and were held on suspicion of offenses under anti-terrorism laws. The men, all based in London, were detained early Sunday after a tip-off that three large white vans had been seen heading towards the base. The tip-off came from a local farmer who had reportedly seen a group of masked and hooded men entering the fields. While US President Donald Trump claimed the suspects aimed to cause \"big damage\" and were under investigation by British and US authorities, British counter-terror police have provided little detail on the suspects. However, a source familiar with the investigation suggested an Iranian-linked motive was the most likely scenario, alongside potential Russian sabotage or terrorism plots. Defence Minister Wes Streeting declined to speculate about the motives but emphasized the ongoing threat from Iran, stating that Iran and its proxies seek to harm the UK and its allies. In May, Britain had sanctioned 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran for their involvement in hostile activities. The base had been cordoned off, with a 400-meter exclusion zone and the evacuation of 85 homes. A bomb disposal robot was seen operating around the vans, and security was heightened around the base and other US military facilities in the UK.",
  "summary": "Five men held over a bomb scare at a British air base used by the US are all UK nationals aged in their mid-20s, British counter-terror police said Monday. The five — a 25-year-old, three men aged 24 and a 23-year-old — all based in London, have been detained since Sunday on suspicion of offences including “preparation of a terrorist act” under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police. The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Five UK men, aged 23-25, detained at RAF Fairford",
    "Tip-off from local farmer about masked men entering fields",
    "Iranian-linked motive suggested in investigation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Iran link examined as UK police quiz five men held at airbase used by US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/iran-link-examined-as-uk-police-quiz-five-men-held-at-airbase-used-by",
        "published": "2026-09-28T07:46:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Was Iran involved in suspected bomb plot at RAF base being used by US? What police said",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/was-iran-involved-in-suspected-bomb-plot-at-raf-base-being-used-by-us",
        "published": "2026-09-28T10:24:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Semafor",
        "title": "UK foils suspected attack on air base used to strike Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/uk-foils-suspected-attack-on-air-base-used-to-strike-iran",
        "published": "2026-09-28T10:41:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "UK police probes Iran link to air base bomb scare: media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/uk-police-probes-iran-link-to-air-base-bomb-scare-media",
        "published": "2026-09-28T11:10:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Farmer apparently warned about suspects in U.K. air base terror plot being linked to Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/farmer-apparently-warned-about-suspects-in-u-k-air-base-terror-plot",
        "published": "2026-09-28T14:00:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}