Suspect called 999 after alleged bomb plot collapsed at RAF base

An alleged bomb plot at an RAF base collapsed because one of the suspects called 999 on himself, police sources say. Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire during the early hours of Sunday. One ringed the emergency line to report the situation. Armed officers rushed to the spot and rounded up the group while stripping them of their tops due to fears they might be wearing suicide vests.

A farmer who spotted three suspicious vans blocking a country road claimed she saw eight to 10 masked men running through woods and across fields. It is now understood those figures in the dark were actually armed police officers. Why one suspect would dial 999 remains under investigation. Questions are swirling over whether he was trying to back out of something or if it might have been part of a plan. One line of inquiry suggests the allegedly Iran-linked drama could not be a foiled attack but a stunt designed to send a message to British and US authorities.

Villagers were dramatically evacuated from their homes on Sunday morning as elite SAS troops descended on the base and a major incident was declared. However, questions arose when the men, aged between 23 and 25, were bailed within 36 hours of the incident. On Tuesday, counter terrorism police revealed that no explosive devices were found in vans left by the suspects, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. Counter terrorism police are continuing to investigate after petrol was recovered from vans found near RAF Fairford.

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 according to police statements, and they have since been released on bail. Head of UK counter-terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor explained the decision to bail the suspects was an investigative choice. He stressed that public safety was at the forefront of decision-making. 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.

Petrol was recovered from the scene, yet detectives now face a tough choice. They must decide if the actions of these men cross the legal line set by the National Security Act, according to The Times. The stakes are high. If convicted, the suspects could spend 14 years behind bars for plotting an attack on Iran's behalf. This penalty applies even if they claim they did not know they were acting for the Middle Eastern country.

The Gloucestershire base in question has served as a hub for US military strikes against Iran. Five individuals are currently under suspicion. One is a 24-year-old from Camden in north London. The other four hail from Westminster in central London; two are 24 years old, one is 23, and the oldest is 25. Police have not said when these five will answer to bail conditions.

Local life began to normalize on Monday. Residents from about 85 evacuated households were permitted to go back inside their homes. However, tension remained. A local businesswoman noted an unfairness in how things played out. She complained that the arrested men had been granted bail and could return home while people living in Whelford waited longer. Roadblocks near RAF Fairford airbase stayed up as officers guarded the area. Searches of the London homes for all five suspects are finished, but police cordons around the base should not lift until Wednesday.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke out. He insisted the plot involved a foreign actor by name. In a television interview, he pointed to Iran, noting that its regime had previously threatened US interests. Yet, he stopped short of directly blaming Tehran. Potential involvement by Iran was understood to be one line of inquiry for British investigators. The nation has used proxies in the past to carry out acts within the UK.

Tehran denied any role in this matter categorically. Its London embassy dismissed reports linking the capital to the arrests as unfounded and malicious speculations. A statement from the embassy read: '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 reserved the right to take appropriate legal measures as necessary. They stated this was to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people against misleading and damaging media narratives.

Mr Rubio called the events near RAF Fairford a very serious situation. He 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.