A 22-year-old British man arrested in Westminster on Tuesday, October 6, over suspected terrorist activity at RAF Fairford has been released on police bail.
Authorities have arrested seven men, all in their 20s, in connection with the investigation. All have been released on police bail as specialist officers continue to pursue inquiries.
The seventh man was detained on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into activity at the Gloucestershire airbase on September 27.
The 22-year-old was detained in Westminster, London, and counter-terrorism police also searched a property in the same area, they confirmed at the time.
He has since been released from custody under strict bail conditions.
Upon his arrest, senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said: “This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford.
“Once again, I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this highly complex investigation.
“We’re acutely aware of the public interest in this investigation, and we are working around the clock, and at pace, to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire. We remain committed to investigating all possible angles.”
Police arrested five other British nationals on Sunday, September 27, after three suspicious vehicles were reported outside RAF Fairford in the early hours. They were later bailed.
A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was later arrested on Thursday, October 1. He also remains on bail.
President Donald Trump expressed displeasure at the release of the original five suspects, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t have done that”.
RAF Fairford is a key outpost of the US Air Force and, until recently, hosted a fleet of American heavy bombers.
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Around a dozen B-1 Lancer aircraft flew sorties from RAF Fairford during the war with Iran to deliver “defensive strikes”.
However, the bombers have since been recalled to the US following the incident.
Last week, Andy Burnham told GB News there were “strong indications“ that Iran had played a part in the suspected plot.
Meanwhile, President Trump said US intelligence had the suspects “under view for a long time”.
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