Sixth man arrested over suspected RAF Fairford terror plot bailed

A sixth man who was arrested in connection with a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford has been released on bail, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said.

The 25-year-old man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

He was arrested on Thursday in the Borough of Westminster, London, where searches of two properties have now concluded.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, CTP added.

It comes after five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism and then bailed.

Three suspicious vans were spotted near the military site in Gloucestershire last weekend.

Senior CTP national co-ordinator Vicki Evans previously said the investigation is “hugely complex”, adding specialist teams are “interrogating multiple lines of inquiry”.

She added: “As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there were “strong indications” Iran played a part in the incident near the Gloucestershire military base.

A US Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire (Ben Birchall/PA)

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RAF Fairford has been used in recent months by US bombers after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war.

Counter-terror police have said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert near the airbase.

On Thursday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel handed Britain intelligence about the suspected terror plot.

Mr Netanyahu said his country warned UK authorities about the “Iranian-sponsored attack” shortly before Britain’s announcement of a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Earlier in the week, US president Donald Trump said he was “disappointed” after the five men were released on bail.

He told reporters: “We were involved in (the investigation), but as you know, your fellow countrymen let them go.

“Well, they didn’t let them go. They put them out on bail. I assume they haven’t watched closely… they should not have done that.”