UK police say releasing on bail five men held over airbase incident / Photo: Ben STANSALL - AFP
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UK police say releasing on bail five men held over airbase incident
British police said Monday five men arrested near an airbase used by the United States were being released on bail, as officers probed whether a "foreign state" could be involved in a suspected bomb plot targeting it.
The release of the five -- all London-based Britons in their mid-20s -- came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an emergency meeting of top officials to ensure they have "the full picture".
Earlier, Iran had denied involvement in any plot to target the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, southwest England, following the security scare there early Sunday.
The British interior ministry has previously accused Iran and Russia of using proxies to carry out criminal activities on their behalf on UK territory.
Here's what we know so far:
- Counter-terror probe -
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation after authorities received reported Sunday of three "suspicious" white vans near the airbase, which has been used by the US to bomb Iran.
Police said in their latest update Monday that the five men held, who all live in inner London boroughs, were being released on bail "following extensive interviews and enquiries".
"This does not mean the investigation is over," Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters in London, adding that the five would be subject to "stringent" bail conditions.
He said that officers were "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state".
The men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police.
They had been travelling in the three suspect vehicles, which have since been subject to "extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts".
- Bomb-disposal team -
Authorities have not confirmed the details of the threat, but bomb-disposal experts were seen at work at the scene.
A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase said she rang the police after seeing three white vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
The anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed the police had "dropped the ball" on the threat.
But UK defence minister Wes Streeting said she only had a "partial picture".
- Iran denies involvement -
US President Donald Trump said the UK and US had the suspects "under investigation" for a while.
"They were looking to do big damage to our fort," Trump said while on a visit to Chicago. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
He later told reporters "we know all about them" when asked about the suspects, appearing to nod when asked if there was a connection to Iran.
"You'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them," said Trump, without giving further details.
Iran's denial came via its embassy in London, which said on X that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation that Tehran was involved.
It criticised "the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran" to the incident.
- US used base -
In March, Britain gave the US permission to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source.
Since then, US bombers and other planes have been seen taking off and landing from the base -- the only one on Britain's mainland used for this purpose.
Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen increased activity and security in recent months.
Despite the lack of public confirmation about the incident, local MP Roz Savage called it "way too close a shave".
"It absolutely makes my blood run cold to think what could have happened if it hadn't been for her quick wits and timely intervention," she told AFP of the local farmer's tip-off.
Around 85 households were evacuated from the village early Sunday, and had to stay elsewhere overnight as a police cordon remained in place.
UK interior minister Shabana Mahmood said Monday afternoon that "the scene is now safe and residents will be shortly be returning home".
Tehran has previously warned London against allowing its bases to be used by the US in operations against Iran.
In March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London of "putting British lives in danger" by allowing the bases to be used "for aggression against Iran".
N.Mukherjee--MT
