Police have confirmed that no explosive devices were found in vans near RAF Fairford, but a ‘quantity of petrol‘ was recovered.
Counter terrorism police gave an update on the major incident at the RAF base over the weekend, which saw villagers dramatically evacuated from their homes.
Five suspects, all men aged between 23 and 25, were detained outside RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sunday morning – but were bailed within 36 hours.
Head of UK counter-terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the decision to bail the suspects was an ‘investigative decision’.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Taylor said: ‘I understand why this development will have come as a surprise to many, but I’d like to reiterate that it was an investigative decision, and one which is grounded in experience and careful consideration of policing powers.’
He added: ‘A police response was activated in the early hours of Sunday morning due to a range of information that we received.
‘This included a call from a member of public about several vehicles acting suspiciously close to RAF Fairford.
‘Those vehicles have been subject to extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts, and we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found. However, a quantity of petrol was recovered.’
Assistant Commissioner Taylor stressed that public safety was at the ‘forefront’ of decision-making when letting suspects out on bail.
Counter terrorism police are continuing to investigate after petrol was recovered from vans found near RAF Fairford
Assistant Commissioner Taylor stressed that public safety was at the ‘forefront’ of decision-making when letting suspects out on bail
The British nationals were detained on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences on Sunday after three vans were found near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base that has been used by the US military to carry out strikes against Iran.
The five suspects include a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; and a 23-year-old, two 24-year-olds, and a 25-year-old, all from Westminster, central London.
Police would not confirm when they are due to answer bail.
A major incident was sparked on Sunday morning with elite SAS troops deployed to the site from Hereford and an emergency COBRA meeting called by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Residents from around 85 evacuated households were allowed to return home on Monday.
One local businesswoman complained the arrested men had been bailed and potentially allowed back to their homes before local residents in Whelford had.
Police cordons near the base are expected to be completely lifted on Wednesday, and searches of the London homes of the five suspects have been completed.
Earlier today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the plot ‘involved the hand of a foreign actor’.
In a television interview, Mr Rubio mentioned Iran by name, noting that the regime had previously threatened to target US interests. However, he stopped short of directly blaming Tehran for the incident.
Potential involvement by Iran was understood to be one line of inquiry for British investigators, and the nation has used proxies in the past to carry out acts in the UK.
However, Tehran ‘categorically’ denied any involvement in the alleged plot in Gloucestershire.
In a statement, its London embassy dismissed reports linking Tehran to the arrests as ‘unfounded and malicious speculations’.
The embassy added: ‘The circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK.
‘The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives.’
Police officers guard an area as roadblocks remain in place near RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base
Five men were pictured as police arrested them on terror charges near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. They are all British, from London, and in their 20s, police said – and have all been since released on bail
Mr Rubio described the events near RAF Fairford as a ‘very serious situation’ and thanked British authorities for their response, saying they had been ‘very cooperative and very helpful’.
He added that ‘a lot of people are disturbed’ by the decision to grant bail to the five suspects.
Assistant Commissioner Taylor said the worries felt by people over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford have been ‘heightened by the international commentary’.
