LONDON — Counter-terrorism police have arrested a 22-year-old British national in Westminster on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist acts, marking the latest development in an ongoing security investigation surrounding RAF Fairford.
The suspect was detained on Tuesday in connection with a security alert on 27 September that triggered a major incident response in Gloucestershire. The arrest brings the total number of people apprehended in the case to seven, although authorities have confirmed that no one has yet been formally charged.
The investigation began in the early hours of 27 September, when police were alerted to three “suspicious vehicles” traveling toward the airbase, which is located near the village of Whelford. The response was significant, resulting in the evacuation of dozens of nearby homes as a precautionary measure.
Five men, aged between 23 and 25, were initially arrested near the site on suspicion of explosives offences and later detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. While those individuals were subsequently released on police bail, officials described the move as an “investigative decision” rooted in professional strategy. A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual Iranian-British national, was also arrested in Westminster on 1 October and similarly released on bail.
Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that the case “remains a live investigation” and that officers are continuing to “pursue multiple lines of enquiry.”
The activity at RAF Fairford has been under heightened scrutiny due to its role in international defense operations. The base, which has been used by the United States Air Force for decades, has served as a launch point for B-1 and B-52 bombers deployed to the Middle East following UK approval for defensive strikes against Iran.
The security situation reached a critical point this past Sunday, when it was confirmed that the US had withdrawn its bombers from the base and returned them to the United States. President Donald Trump addressed the removal during a press briefing, citing “some threats” directed at the facility, though he declined to provide specific details. While US media reports have speculated that the redeployment followed intelligence suggesting Iran was plotting a drone attack on the site, those claims remain unverified.
RAF Fairford has been a strategic focal point for US operations in the region for months, heightening concerns among local residents and security analysts regarding the potential for retaliatory actions. As the police investigation deepens, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, though they have stopped short of detailing the specific nature of the threat posed to the base or the surrounding communities.
Police confirm that enquiries into the September incident are ongoing across multiple jurisdictions.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
