UK: Two arrested on terrorism suspicion over Fairford base incident

- One of them is of Iranian origin... and investigations are examining the possibility of foreign state involvement

British police announced on Thursday the arrest of two men, one of whom holds both British and Iranian citizenship, on suspicion of planning a terrorist act linked to the security incident that occurred last Sunday near the US Fairford Air Base.

In a statement, counter-terrorism police said the suspects were detained in the Westminster area in central London, while two separate homes were searched as part of the investigation.

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The police confirmed that the investigation is examining all possibilities, including the possibility of foreign state involvement, noting that the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the events in Gloucestershire, where the military base is located, is highly complex and involves multiple lines of inquiry.

Last Sunday morning, police arrested five people on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, after discovering remotely controlled explosives during a check of three transport vehicles parked near the military base used by US forces.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had confirmed on Wednesday that there are “strong indications” of Iran’s involvement in the incident, which he described as a terrorist conspiracy that attempted to target the US Fairford Air Base.