Five British men released on bail after RAF Fairford arrests
Five London men in their 20s remain under investigation after arrests near RAF Fairford over suspected explosives and terrorism offences.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Five British men released on bail after arrests near RAF Fairford remain under investigation into suspected explosives and terrorism offences, police said. The case has drawn attention because the Gloucestershire base has been used by U.S. military aircraft during the conflict involving Iran.
The men, all British nationals from London and in their 20s, were released on Sept. 28, according to Associated Press reporting published by PBS. They have not been named, and the reporting did not say that any had been charged.
Why were the men arrested near RAF Fairford?
Police detained the five early Sunday after three vans were seen in countryside near RAF Fairford, the AP reported. The arrests followed a late-night call about suspicious vehicles near the base, police said.
The men were first arrested on suspicion of explosives offences, then on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism, according to the report. Those are suspicions under investigation, not findings of guilt.
Authorities evacuated residents from 85 homes in nearby Whelford while army bomb-disposal specialists examined the three white vans with a robot. Police had not publicly said whether explosives were found; Britain’s PA news agency reported, without identifying sources, that no viable explosives had been located.
What have police said about the investigation?
Laurence Taylor, who leads U.K. Counter Terrorism Policing, said the men were released under stringent conditions and remain under investigation, the AP reported. Detectives are following several possible leads, including whether people involved may have acted for a foreign state, knowingly or otherwise.
Police have not concluded that any foreign government was involved. The inquiry is considering potential links to Iran, Russia or non-state militant groups, the AP reported. Iran’s embassy in London denied any involvement and rejected speculation about the incident.
RAF Fairford is a U.K.-owned installation that has been used by American bombers over decades of Middle East conflicts, including the reported war with Iran this year, according to the AP. The base has also been the site of anti-war protests.
What does police bail mean in England and Wales?
U.K. government guidance says police may grant pre-charge bail when there is not enough evidence to charge a suspect. A person released on police bail may be required to return to a station for further questioning.
Crown Prosecution Service guidance says police can use pre-charge bail while further work is needed on an investigation and can decide whether to attach conditions. The conditions imposed on the five men have not been made public in the reporting.
The investigation at RAF Fairford is continuing, and police have not announced conclusions on whether explosives were present or who, if anyone, was behind the suspected offences.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.