UK police arrest dual UK-Iranian man in Fairford air base investigation

UK Counter-Terrorism Police Arrest Dual National in RAF Fairford Investigation

Details of the RAF Fairford Terrorism Investigation

(In paragraph 5, corrects age of dual national to 25 from 27 and removes reference to second man being questioned, after police correct their statement)

Background of the Incident

LONDON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - British counter-terrorism police investigating a suspected plot involving an air base used by the US to target Iran said on Thursday they had arrested a dual UK-Iranian national on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.

In an incident which triggered a huge police response, raised ‌alarm among Western allies, and remains largely unexplained, five British men in their 20s were arrested on Sunday on suspected terrorism and explosive offences near RAF Fairford in western England.

Initial Arrests and Police Actions

The men were later released without charge on police bail. But counter-terrorism police said they were considering whether a foreign state had been involved in the incident and Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday it might have had an Iranian link.

Iran has said accusations it was involved were baseless and on Thursday summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the issue.

Arrest of the Dual National

In the latest development, police said they had arrested the 25-year-old dual national in London.

Police Statements and Investigation Complexity

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

"As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement."

Details of the Police Operation

Police launched a massive operation in the early hours of Sunday "due to a range of information" including an alert from a local farmer who became suspicious of the men who she had seen near the base in three vans.

However, the Times newspaper reported ​that one of the men had also called emergency services shortly before being ​arrested.

Detectives have confirmed that although petrol was found in the vans used by the men, no improvised ​explosive device was present.

International Response and Political Reactions

Burnham said Britain was working closely with the US, whose bombers have in recent months used Fairford to launch missions against Iran, although US President Donald Trump said he would not have released the men, who police said were only freed under stringent conditions.

Trump previously said those involved had planned "big damage" while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to the "hands of a foreign actor" in the incident.

Reporting and Editorial Notes

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Michael Holden; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Andrew Heavens)