British counter-terrorism police have re-arrested two men on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service in connection with an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford last month. The men, aged 24 and 25, were initially detained in late September and early October before being released on bail. They now face new charges under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.
Seven men in total have been arrested since the incident on 27 September, when police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the U.S.-run airbase in Gloucestershire. Authorities declared a major incident, evacuated dozens of homes, and deployed a bomb disposal team. While petrol was found in three vans, police later confirmed no explosives were discovered.
The 24-year-old British national was first arrested near RAF Fairford on 27 September, while the 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national was detained in Westminster on 1 October. Both were initially held under terrorism-related charges before their re-arrest on Tuesday. Five other men remain on police bail as the investigation continues.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) stated that detectives are examining many lines of inquiry in what they describe as a “hugely complex investigation.” In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement.”
Taylor added that investigators are still determining the level of involvement and the ambition behind it. The U.S. temporarily pulled its bombers from RAF Fairford following the incident, though no official reason was provided. British authorities have linked Tehran to the probe, while Iranian officials have denied any involvement, calling allegations “unfounded and malicious.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing to gather evidence. No charges have been filed as of the latest update.