London, 1 October 2026
Police on Thursday arrested a dual British and Iranian national on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, following a security incident at a United States run military air base in England that British authorities have linked to Tehran.
The man, aged 27, was arrested in central London. Counter Terrorism Policing said officers had searched two properties in the capital.
A British national aged 26 was interviewed under caution. That means the interview was recorded and may be used in any future prosecution.
Five men, all British nationals in their twenties and from London, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences close to RAF Fairford. The base has been used by American bombers to strike Iran. All five have since been released on bail.
Scores of residents were evacuated from homes near the base as armed police and army bomb disposal experts moved into the rural area. Police later said they had found a quantity of an accelerant, petrol, in three vans linked to the five suspects, but no explosives.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the investigation “is hugely complex, and our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of inquiry.” She added: “As we have made clear, we are looking at all possible angles, including possible foreign state involvement.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom sees “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident. He did not give details of what the suspects were planning, or of why Britain believes Iran was involved.
Iran denies any involvement. It has previously said that it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.
RAF Fairford, 100 miles west of London, has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, including this year’s war with Iran.
Senior United States officials have criticised the decision to grant the five suspects bail. President Donald Trump said “I would not have done that,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said many people were “disturbed” by the move.
Mr Burnham said the authorities had the investigation under “the strongest grip and the closest control.” He said British officials had been “talking to counterparts in the United States all week to explain what is happening here, how things are being done.”
The arrests come amid heightened concern about threats from hostile states. British security services say both Russia and Iran have used proxies to commit crimes on United Kingdom soil. Officials have said the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states, including Iran, rose by 50 per cent in the six months to December 2025.
United Kingdom officials say proxies linked to Iran have been behind a series of arsons and other attacks in Britain and elsewhere, many aimed at the Jewish community and intended to spread fear. They have previously warned that Tehran could widen its targets in the United Kingdom if conflicts in the Middle East continue.
By A.Ikechukwu
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