British-Iranian man arrested over alleged RAF Fairford bomb plot

A sixth man has been arrested in the investigation into an alleged bomb plot near RAF Fairford.

The 27-year-old man, a dual UK/Iranian national, was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the Borough of Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, Counter Terrorism Policing said.

A 26-year-old man, a UK national, has been questioned under caution.

Searches of two properties were also carried out in the same area.

Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said: “The investigation into circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is hugely complex, and our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of enquiry.

“As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement. I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this investigation.”

Five men in their 20s, who were arrested on Sunday, remain on police bail.

Those men, who are all British nationals and from London, were arrested over potential terror offences in Whelford, Gloucestershire.

They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of terrorism offences, after a villager dialled 999 when she saw three vans and a group of masked men near the base.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham earlier said there are “strong indications that Iran played a part” in the suspected terror plot.

The UK is working closely with the US and the authorities have the situation under “the strongest grip”, the prime minister insisted after Donald Trump criticised the decision to release the suspects on bail.

The Gloucestershire site has been used in recent months by American bombers after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war.

Counter-Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor earlier said that releasing the suspects on bail “does not mean that the investigation is over”.

He said: “They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.”

The suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London, three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.

Mr Burnham held a Cobra meeting on Monday evening “to make sure we have the full picture”, he told LBC.

Afterwards, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: “What we can say at this stage is that the response of our policing, counter-terrorism policing and security services has been exemplary. The investigation remains ongoing.”

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