Rubio Confirms Foreign Actor Behind Failed Terror Plot Near U.K. Base

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that a failed terror plot near a United Kingdom military base used by the U.S. involved a "foreign actor," tying the incident to broader threats from enemies like Iran. On Monday night, speaking on Fox News' "Hannity," he said, "What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the U.K. over the weekend is a very serious situation." He added that it "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor." Rubio stopped short of giving details right away.

"I won't get into great detail about that yet," he said.

Rubio also questioned the point of NATO after allies blocked the United States from using their bases during the conflict with Iran. He warned there would be "repercussions" for threats against American interests. "I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is, we are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally," he continued. "We're going to always take that very seriously. There will be repercussions for that, if it ever were to happen or even attempted."

He thanked U.K. partners for helping stop the "very serious threat" of an attack. "I want to thank the U.K. for their cooperation and their help on it," Rubio said. "There's a lot more news that will come out on this in the days to come. But there's only so much I can say right now at this point about it, other than this was a very serious thing and it was responded to appropriately."

British police declared a major incident at RAF Fairford base in western England after arresting five people early Sunday. The government held a national emergency meeting. Police released the suspects on bail Monday but said the investigation continued. Authorities were examining whether individuals acting for a foreign state were involved.

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that the incident "might be" connected to Iran, with which the U.S. has been at war since late February. He added he would not have released the suspects on bail. "I wouldn't have done that," he said.

A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that three large white vans the men appeared to travel in did not contain viable explosives. The same source said Sunday's police response was not intelligence-led, suggesting the five were not under direct surveillance. Yet security had been beefed up at the base, which indicates there was information it was being targeted.

The five arrested are all British nationals in their early 20s from London. They were detained in the early hours on Sunday after police were alerted by a local farmer to three white vans parked near RAF Fairford. Local residents said security had been significantly beefed up at the base in the days leading up to Sunday. The farmer told reporters that one neighbor, driving past the base on Saturday night, had been ordered by U.S. security personnel to stop and put their hands out of their car.

The farmer, who asked not to be named, called police after she returned home around 1 a.m.

Local time revealed three large vans parked on the road. One sported a fake telephone number. A group of hooded, masked men fled the scene.

A massive cordon held around the base Tuesday morning. Roadblocks stood firm in place. Yet local media reports stated residents from nearby homes were returning after evacuation orders lifted.

Western governments have warned recently about threats from hostile actors based in Iran or Russia. These groups allegedly organize destabilizing activity. They also hire proxies to carry out plots.

Putin and Iran desperately need each other, an expert claims as Russia voices support for the regime. Britain raised its national terrorism threat level to the second highest spot back in April. This shift followed a series of antisemitic incidents in north London. Experts now consider an attack highly likely.

The nation has also imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Iran. Officials accuse them of involvement in hostile activity. These charges include plotting attacks. They also involve providing financial services to groups seeking to destabilize Britain and other countries worldwide.

Iran denied any involvement in attacks or plots in Britain and elsewhere. The country flatly rejected claims Monday regarding the incident at Fairford.