RAF Fairford suspected terror plot investigation
UK authorities are investigating a suspected terror plot connected to events on September 27 at RAF Fairford, a United States-used airbase in western England. Two British men have been charged with national security offences, with one accused of assisting Iranian intelligence. Police and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have said Iranian state involvement is considered highly likely, and the UK government summoned Iran's ambassador. The incident led to the withdrawal of USAF B-1 heavy bombers from the base.
Current state
Two British men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, have been charged with national security offences over the suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford; one is accused of assisting Iranian intelligence and the other with entering a prohibited place. UK authorities continue to consider Iranian state involvement 'highly likely', and all U.S. bombers have been withdrawn from the base.
4 sources · 5 reports · Updated 27 Oct 2026
Developments
- Key development
On 27 October, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, were charged under the National Security Act 2023 over the RAF Fairford incident; one is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service and the other with entering a prohibited place.
- Key development
On 20 October, a 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old UK/Iranian national were re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence under the 2023 National Security Act; the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing said Iranian state involvement is considered 'highly likely'.
- Earlier development
On 12 October, Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament there were 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement and that it was 'highly likely'; the UK government summoned Iran's ambassador.
- Earlier development
A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested on 2 October and released on bail, and a seventh British man was arrested on 6 October and released on bail.
- Key development
On 4 October, the United States withdrew all bombers deployed to RAF Fairford and returned them to home stations in the United States.
- Earlier development
The five men arrested on 27 September were released on police bail on 28 September as investigators examined possible foreign-state involvement.
- Key development
On 27 September, five British men in their 20s were arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after three suspicious vehicles were reported heading toward the base.
Current story coverage
Earlier coverage
- British police rearrest 2 men on suspicion of assisting Iran over suspected plot at a U.S.-run air base Police have been investigating a suspected terror plot on September 27 against the U.S.-run base in western England.
- Two re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran intelligence after RAF Fairford incident The head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing said they consider Iranian state involvement "highly likely".
- UK: Iran 'highly likely' to be behind RAF Fairford incident Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament there were "strong indications" of Iranian involvement. The government summoned Iran's ambassador. The scare at RAF Fairford led to the withdrawal of USAF B-1 heavy bombers.
- Seventh man bailed in connection with alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford The seventh man arrested by police investigating a suspected terror plot close to RAF Fairford has been released on bail.
- Police make seventh arrest over UK airbase incident A seventh man was arrested Tuesday over a major incident last month at a British military airbase used by the United States to launch strikes on Iran, police said. The arrest came a day after President Donald Trump said the United States had withdrawn all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford because of "threats" he believed were linked to Tehran. A 22-year-old British male was arrested in London "on suspicion of preparatio…
- Trump ties US bomber withdrawal to threat against British base The U.S. said it moved all of its heavy bombers out of RAF Fairford.
- Dual UK-Iranian national released on bail over suspected plot against U.S.-run military base The 25-year-old man was arrested Thursday in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts close to the RAF Fairford air base, which has been used by American bombers to strike Iran. He was the sixth person taken into custody and then released on bail as detectives investigate the incident.
- UK Believes Iran Played a Part in RAF Fairford Air Base Incident, Burnham Says The British prime minister, Andy Burnham, said there were “strong indications” Iran played a part in the events at R.A.F. Fairford on Sunday, without providing details why.
- RAF Fairford: Rubio says ‘foreign actor’ behind suspected plot as some evacuated residents begin to return home – as it happened US secretary of state and Donald Trump express concerns about decision to bail suspects; some residents reported as hesitant to return home Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford plot Tell us: have you been affected by the incident at RAF Fairford? Former national co-ordinator for UK counter-terrorism policing Nick Aldworth said investigators make bail decisions based on risk rather tha…
- RAF Fairford incident involves 'foreign actor', says Rubio In a television interview the US Secretary of State mentioned Iran, which has denied any involvement
- 5 British terror plot suspects freed on bail Five British nationals were freed on bail after a high-profile arrest over the weekend. They are suspected of planning an attack near an air base used by the U.S. military in the war with Iran. President Trump criticized their release as investigators dig into their backgrounds. Holly Williams reports.
- Five arrested as counter-terror police investigate major incident near RAF Fairford The men have been detained on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act after three suspicious vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base.