Two men have been re-arrested by counter-terrorism police as the investigation into an alleged espionage plot at RAF Fairford intensifies.
The suspects—a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian citizen, both from London—were apprehended on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Authorities have officially confirmed that the focus of the investigation lies with the state of Iran.
The arrests mark a significant development in a high-stakes security probe that began on September 27. The alarm was raised when three suspicious white vans were spotted near the safety perimeter of the Gloucestershire airbase. The incident triggered a massive security operation, with eyewitnesses, including a local farmer, reporting masked individuals fleeing into nearby woodland.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, addressed the gravity of the situation during a briefing today. “Since the events at RAF Fairford, our specialist teams have been working tirelessly to interrogate the many lines of enquiry involved in this hugely complex investigation,” Taylor stated.
“So far, seven men have been arrested in connection with our investigation. As a result of the ongoing efforts of our officers, earlier today two of those men were re-arrested for offences relating to Section 3 of the National Security Act—assisting a foreign intelligence service.”
While the investigation remains live and evidence continues to be gathered, Taylor reaffirmed the force’s stance on potential state sponsorship. “We consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement,” he added. “Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it.”
The five other men connected to the investigation currently remain on police bail. The probe has caused significant diplomatic friction; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied the allegations, accusing the British Prime Minister of “barking up the wrong tree” and dismissing the validity of the arrests.
RAF Fairford has remained on high alert since the incident, which occurred just days before the base moved to redeploy U.S. fighter jets stationed at the site. The presence of armed police and road blocks in the surrounding villages of Whelford and Kempsford has become a fixture of the local landscape as the search for answers continues.
Assistant Commissioner Taylor acknowledged the public’s desire for clarity, noting: “Due to their sensitive nature, national security investigations can take time to progress. We know the public have unanswered questions. I want to be as transparent as possible and when we are in the position to share more, we will.”
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