Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the alleged plot against a U.S. air base in Britain bore the unmistakable mark of a foreign government, even as British authorities released the five detained suspects on bail.
In an interview on Fox News's "Hannity," Rubio described the Sunday arrests near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as a "very serious" matter, adding that it "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor." He declined to elaborate, saying, "I won't get into great detail about that yet."
British police took five British nationals in their 20s into custody on explosives and terrorism charges after a local farmer reported three suspicious vehicles near the base late Saturday night. A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that the white vans did not contain viable explosives.
President Trump said the U.S. federal government had coordinated with the U.K. in the arrests, telling reporters Sunday that the men were "under view for a long time." However, he expressed surprise at their release on Monday, saying, "I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that."
RAF Fairford, owned by the U.K. but operated by U.S. forces, has been a staging point for American B-52 and B-1 bombers conducting strikes against Iran as part of the ongoing military campaign. The Iranian embassy in London denied any involvement, issuing a statement that "categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations" about the Islamic Republic's role.
The denial comes as Tehran has repeatedly threatened nations assisting the U.S. war effort and has launched attacks on American bases across the Middle East during the seven-month conflict. Rubio underscored the broader threat environment, saying the incident "ties us to the reality" of global threats against American interests.
"We are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally," Rubio told Hannity. He added, "We're going to always take that very seriously, there will be repercussions for that if it ever were to happen or even attempted."
The development has intensified scrutiny on U.S. force protection abroad, particularly at installations like RAF Fairford that support operations in the Middle East. For more on the arrests and the ongoing investigation, see our earlier report on the bail release. The case also echoes broader concerns about foreign interference, a topic that has roiled Washington, as highlighted by recent calls for investigations into politically motivated firings.
As the probe continues, British authorities have not disclosed the specific foreign state suspected, but the episode is likely to heighten tensions with Iran, which has a history of clandestine operations against adversaries. The U.S. and U.K. have not yet announced any retaliatory measures, but Rubio's remarks signal that Washington views the incident as a direct challenge.
