What changed in this update
British counterterrorism police said the men were arrested after three suspicious vehicles appeared to be traveling toward R.A.F. Fairford early on Sunday.
Event intelligence
RAF Fairford suspected terror plot investigation
13 connected story threads
Current state
Two men have been charged with national security offences under the National Security Act 2023 over the suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford: Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service that police believe to be Iran's, and Nouman Essghir, 24, is charged with entering a prohibited place. UK authorities continue to regard Iranian state involvement as 'highly likely', and all U.S. bombers have been withdrawn from the base.
Grounded in 6 reports across 5 sources
In this event Two men charged over RAF Fairford air base incident, with one accused of assisting foreign intelligence British police rearrest 2 men on suspicion of assisting Iran over suspected plot at a U.S.-run air base Two re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran intelligence after RAF Fairford incident UK: Iran 'highly likely' to be behind RAF Fairford incident Seventh man bailed in connection with alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford Police make seventh arrest over UK airbase incident Trump ties US bomber withdrawal to threat against British base Dual UK-Iranian national released on bail over suspected plot against U.S.-run military base UK Believes Iran Played a Part in RAF Fairford Air Base Incident, Burnham Says RAF Fairford: Rubio says ‘foreign actor’ behind suspected plot as some evacuated residents begin to return home – as it happened RAF Fairford incident involves 'foreign actor', says Rubio Five arrested as counter-terror police investigate major incident near RAF Fairford
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Source coverage
Source reports
NYTimes – World NYT
5 Men Arrested on Suspicion of Terrorism Offenses Near RAF Fairford, Air Base Used by U.S.
British counterterrorism police said the men were arrested after three suspicious vehicles appeared to be traveling toward R.A.F. Fairford early on Sunday.
CBS
5 British terror plot suspects freed on bail
NPR
British men released on bail after suspected terror plot
Five British men have been released on bail after being detained near a military base for alleged terror offenses. The British base is used by the U.S. military for strikes on Iran.
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BBC News – UK BBC
Five men arrested in RAF Fairford incident released on police bail
Police are exploring whether proxies or individuals working on behalf of a foreign state are involved.
NPR
What we know about the suspected U.K. terror plot. And, why the Gulf remains in limbo
What we know — and still don't — about the suspected terror plot near a U.K. air base. Trump rejects Iran's offer to pause fighting. And CNN prepares for new owners with ties to Trump.
Guardian
Five men arrested at RAF Fairford are all UK nationals from London, say police
Officers say they have secured extension to continue to hold men, all in their 20s, on suspicion of terror offences Five men arrested on suspicion of terror offences at RAF Fairford are all British nationals from London in their 20s, counter-terrorism police have said. The men were pictured on Sunday being apprehended, shirtless, near the RAF base in Gloucestershire, which is being used by the US air force in its op…
NPR – World NPR
British police investigate if arrests near U.S. air base foiled an Iran-linked attack
Police were holding five men and examining suspected explosives found near a U.S.-operated air force base in England, as counterterror detectives investigated whether the arrests foiled an attempted attack linked to Iran.
Guardian
UK security forces were aware of RAF Fairford suspected bomb plot, hints defence secretary
Wes Streeting indicates farmer who alerted police and said security forces had ‘dropped the ball’ only ‘had a partial picture’ UK security services were aware in advance about a group of men arrested in connection to a bomb plot against an RAF base used by the US military, Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, has indicated. Five men were arrested on terrorism charges after armed officers found explosives in three v…
NPR
5 men suspected of plotting a terrorist act arrested near U.K. air base
British police arrested five men on suspicion of plotting a van bomb attack near a military base in Gloucestershire used by the United States Air Force.
Guardian
RAF Fairford live updates: police investigate Iran link to suspected bomb plot
Five men arrested over terrorism offences after explosives found near base The defence secretary, Wes Streeting, has spoken to the media from the Labour party conference this morning about the incident near RAF Fairford. Streeting said he was grateful for the vigilance of the members of the public who are thought to have helped alert the emergency services to the suspected terror plot. Thank you to that member of th…
NYTimes – World NYT
Possible Terror Plot at RAF Fairford Air Base in UK: What We Know
Five men were arrested Sunday as they approached R.A.F. Fairford, a British installation used by the U.S. in its war against Iran. The men are being held on suspicion of terrorism.
Guardian
Counter-terror police investigate Iran link over suspected bomb plot at RAF base used by US
Five men arrested on terrorism charges after explosives found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Iran is behind a suspected bomb plot after armed officers found explosives on three vans parked minutes from an RAF base used by the US military. The Guardian understands that after five men were arrested on terrorism charges, investigators were examining materials fou…
NPR
Five arrested near UK air base used by U.S. bombers in Iran war
U.K. police say five men were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act after three vehicles were spotted near an air base the U.S. military has been using to launch attacks on Iran.
TIME
5 Men Arrested Over Suspected Terror Plot Near U.K. Base Used by U.S. Forces
Bomb disposal teams are examining vehicles near RAF Fairford as police investigate suspected explosives offenses.
NPR – World NPR
Multiple arrests on suspicion of explosives offenses near U.K. base used by U.S. forces
Police evacuated homes Sunday near an air base in England used by the U.S. and arrested several men over suspected explosives offenses.
