British counterterrorism police on Thursday arrested a 27-year-old man holding both UK and Iranian citizenship in connection with an alleged thwarted attack earlier this week on a US-operated airbase on British soil. The man was detained in the Westminster area of central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, according to authorities.
The arrest follows a police investigation into suspicious activity outside RAF Fairford, a base in Gloucestershire about 90 miles west of London, late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning. A second man, a 26-year-old British national, has also been questioned in relation to the incident, and officers have searched two properties in the capital.
On Sunday, police initially arrested five men—all British nationals in their 20s—near the base on explosives and terrorism charges after a local farmer alerted authorities to three suspicious vehicles and masked men in the area. All five were released on bail the following day, as previously reported in coverage of the initial arrests and subsequent releases.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday that his government believes Iran "played a part" in the incident, a claim that has heightened diplomatic tensions. The US has used RAF Fairford to station B-52 and B-1 bombers as part of the Trump administration's military campaign against Iran. Over the summer, Tehran warned that "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces," though it has denied involvement in the Fairford events.
The Iranian Embassy in London issued a statement on Monday "categorically reject[ing] and strongly condemn[ing] the recent unfounded and malicious speculations" about the Islamic Republic's potential role. The diplomatic pushback comes amid a broader collapse in US-Iran talks, with the Trump administration recently moving to expel Iranian diplomats from the UN.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans described the investigation as "hugely complex," adding that specialist teams are "interrogating multiple lines of enquiry." She said authorities are "looking at all possible angles—including possible foreign state involvement," and thanked the public for its "continued support and patience."
The case has drawn intense scrutiny given the base's strategic role in US operations against Iran and the UK's ongoing assessment of foreign state threats. The arrest of a dual national with Iranian ties is likely to fuel further questions about Tehran's alleged proxy activities on European soil. The UK government has not yet commented on the latest arrest, but Burnham's earlier remarks signal that London is prepared to hold Iran accountable if evidence emerges.
As the investigation proceeds, British authorities face pressure to balance security concerns with diplomatic fallout. The release of the initial five suspects on bail, covered in detail in reports on the bail decisions, suggests that police are still building their case. The questioning of a sixth man and the search of London properties indicate that the probe remains active and may widen.
For now, RAF Fairford remains a focal point of both military operations and counterterrorism efforts. The alleged plot underscores the risks facing US assets abroad and the complex web of international actors involved. With Iran denying any role and the UK pointing fingers, the incident could further strain already fragile relations between Washington, London, and Tehran.
