Two men have been re-arrested in a counterterrorism investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the U.S. military, with police saying Iranian state involvement is considered highly likely.
Counter Terrorism Policing said Tuesday that a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, both from Westminster in London, were re-arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act 2023. Investigators said the case relates to Iran.
Both men had previously been arrested in connection with the investigation. The 24-year-old was first detained near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sept. 27, while the 25-year-old was arrested in Westminster on Oct. 1.
The investigation began after police received reports of suspicious vehicles traveling toward the airbase shortly after midnight on Sept. 27. Authorities declared a major incident, evacuated dozens of homes and deployed a bomb disposal team to examine vehicles near the base.
Police found petrol in three vans, according to reports. Officers initially arrested five men on suspicion of explosives-related offenses before making further arrests as the investigation developed. Authorities later said no improvised explosive devices had been found.
A total of seven men have been arrested in the investigation. The other five remain on police bail, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators were continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the possible extent of foreign involvement.
Taylor said the investigation remained active and that specialist teams were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry. He also acknowledged that the public had unanswered questions, saying authorities would provide more information when they were able to do so.
The re-arrests do not amount to charges or convictions, and the investigation remains ongoing. Police have not publicly detailed what role the two men are suspected of playing in the incident near the airbase.