British counterterrorism police have rearrested two men in connection with a suspected plot involving Iranian intelligence targeting RAF Fairford, a military air base in Gloucestershire used by the United States Air Force. The men, a 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national from Westminster, were taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, with investigators citing Iran’s likely involvement.
The rearrests come more than three weeks after the initial incident on September 27, when five men traveling in three white vans were stopped near the air base shortly after midnight. The vehicles had raised suspicions among local residents, prompting emergency calls and the deployment of a bomb disposal team, although no explosives or weapons were found. All men initially detained were released on bail, but the investigation has remained active, with counterterrorism officials continuing to examine evidence suggesting involvement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK National Counter Terrorism Policing, described the inquiry as “hugely complex” and confirmed that specialist teams were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry. He indicated that the evidence gathered so far made Iranian state involvement highly probable, though the precise nature and ambitions behind the suspected plot remained under investigation.
One of the men rearrested had been detained near RAF Fairford on September 27, while the other was initially arrested on October 1 in London. Both are now held under the National Security Act 2023, which criminalizes conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service. The remaining five men arrested during the inquiry remain on police bail, as does a seventh individual apprehended during later stages of the investigation.
The incident at RAF Fairford prompted the U.S. Air Force to withdraw its fleet of B-1 bombers from the base earlier this month, relocating them back to home stations amid heightened security concerns. RAF Fairford has been a key operational site for U.S. bomber missions related to the conflict in the Middle East, including strikes against Iranian targets earlier in the year.
Officials have acknowledged unusual elements in the case, including a police call placed by one of the suspected plotters shortly before the vans reached the base, which may indicate internal disagreements or uncertainties among the group involved. While no explosives were found, authorities are exploring a range of scenarios, from a plot aimed at causing damage to attempts to create alarm or disruption.
The UK government, represented by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in parliamentary statements, has pointed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as "almost certainly" behind the episode, reflecting broader concerns about Tehran’s espionage and covert operations in Western countries.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation remains active and sensitive, with further details to be shared when possible. Counterterrorism officials have urged patience, noting the complexity of national security inquiries and the need to preserve the integrity of ongoing work to ensure public safety and hold those responsible to account.