RAF Fairford: arrested man is dual UK-Iranian national
Counter Terrorism Policing said the 25-year-old was held in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts — the sixth person held in the investigation into the RAF Fairford incident.
A 25-year-old man holding dual UK-Iranian nationality has been arrested in Westminster, London, over the investigation into an incident at RAF Fairford, Counter Terrorism Policing has said.
Officers made the arrest in the Borough of Westminster on 1 October, on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Two properties in the same area were also searched.
Five men in their 20s, held near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on 27 September, remain on police bail; with the latest arrest, six people have now been held in the investigation. It is the first arrest in the case in which the suspect has been identified as holding Iranian, as well as British, nationality.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said the inquiry into the events in Gloucestershire was “hugely complex”, with specialist teams “interrogating multiple lines of enquiry”.
Evans added: “As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles – including possible foreign state involvement. I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this investigation.”
The inquiry began after officers were called in the early hours of 27 September to a report of three vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford. Army explosive ordnance disposal specialists examined the vehicles inside a 400-metre cordon, and about 85 nearby households were evacuated as a precaution. Searches of the vehicles found no explosives, though officers recovered fuel and large plastic drums, police have said.
RAF Fairford is used by US forces and has been used to stage US aircraft during strikes on Iranian targets this year. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on 30 September that the government believed Iran had played a part in the incident, the first time ministers had named a state in connection with the case; the Iranian embassy in London has denied any involvement.
Counter Terrorism Policing is asking anyone with information that could assist the investigation to report it via gov.uk/ACT or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.