UK Re-arrests Two Suspected of Involvement in Fairford Base Attack

British counter-terrorism police announced yesterday that they had re-arrested two individuals, one a British citizen and the other a dual British-Iranian national, on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence agency in connection with the recent attack on Fairford Air Base.

The police stated in a press release that the two men, both around 25 years old and from the Westminster area of London, were detained on suspicion of collaborating with a foreign intelligence service, noting that Iran is the country under investigation.

Police had arrested one of the men on September 27 and the other on October 1. The first arrest took place near the aforementioned air base in Gloucestershire, while the second occurred in the Westminster area.

Commenting on the case, Assistant Commissioner and head of counter-terrorism Lawrence Taylor told journalists: “Investigations are ongoing, and we continue to gather evidence. Our position remains unchanged: we strongly suspect the involvement of the Iranian state. Our investigators are currently examining the nature and depth of this involvement, as well as the objectives behind it.”

Fairford Air Base was the site of what is suspected to have been a terrorist attack on September 27. Five British men in their mid-twenties were arrested on suspicion of involvement in explosives and terrorism-related offenses near the military base, but they were later released on bail.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently stated that there are “strong indications that Iran played a role” in the incident.