British counter-terrorism police have arrested a sixth man in connection with an alleged plot to attack a U.S. airbase in England, hours after the UK prime minister said there is a “strong indication” that the Iranian government was involved.
The suspect, a 27-year-old dual Iranian-British national, was detained in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, an offence under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, according to Breitbart, which first reported the arrest. Police also searched two properties in Westminster and questioned another man, a 26-year-old British citizen, under caution.
The arrest follows a bomb alert at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sunday morning, which triggered the initial detention of five men near the base. Those five were quickly released on bail, leaving the public with a confusing and contradictory picture of a case that authorities have described only in broad terms.
Claims of Iranian involvement
Addressing the matter overnight, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there was a “strong indication” that Iran was behind whatever occurred at Fairford last weekend. “We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part,” Burnham said. He thanked Gloucestershire police and counter-terrorism officers for their work, adding that he would provide further updates in due course.
The prime minister’s comments align with statements from Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the incident “clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor,” while President Donald Trump said Sunday that London and Washington had been surveilling the suspects for a “long time” before the five men were arrested near the base.
U.S. Ambassador to Britain Warren Stephens praised the cross-border response on Wednesday. “Proud of the excellent collaboration with UK authorities on the situation near RAF Fairford,” he said. “In the face of threats from hostile actors, our two countries are working together to keep our citizens safe, at home and abroad.”
A base of strategic importance
RAF Fairford, despite its Royal Air Force name, functions as a de facto U.S. Air Force base and is one of the most significant American military installations outside North America. It is capable of handling the heaviest bombers in the U.S. fleet, including the B-52 and B-1, as well as other strategic aircraft. The base played a central role in recent strikes against Iran during Operation Epic Fury earlier this year, which may explain why it would be considered a target.
Counter-terrorism officials have described the investigation as “hugely complex” and said specialist teams are considering “all possible angles including foreign state involvement.”
Public understanding of the case has been clouded by a series of rapid developments. The five men arrested Sunday were released on bail almost immediately, and much of what officials have said since has been cautious and hedged. The sixth arrest, however, suggests the investigation is far from concluded and that authorities continue to pursue leads.
Security posture remains heightened
Observable security measures at Fairford indicate that British and American authorities were aware of an imminent threat before Sunday’s arrests and do not appear to believe the danger has passed.
Plane-spotters, a community that closely tracks aircraft movements at the base, noticed a sudden shift in security posture on Saturday, the day before the arrests. The base reportedly moved to force protection level “Delta,” the highest and rarely used state, in response to intelligence about a specific and imminent threat. In addition to standard security, a heavy earth-moving vehicle was parked blocking perimeter gates, armored cars patrolled the fence line, and aircraft were dispersed around the base, a Cold War-era tactic designed to make an air wing less vulnerable to attack.
Those enhanced measures remain in place, and on Thursday they were further reinforced. Construction vehicles deployed a ring of concrete barriers around the main gate, a clear sign that concern about a vehicle-based attack remains high. The concrete blocks, photographed by Getty Images, underscore the continuing tension around the facility.
The investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police, who have not released the names of any suspects. The 27-year-old remains in custody, while the 26-year-old British citizen was questioned under caution but has not been arrested. It is unclear whether additional arrests are expected.
As the case unfolds, the British and American governments have sent a unified message: they believe a foreign state was involved, they are working closely together, and the threat to RAF Fairford has not yet been fully neutralized.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/10/01/iranian-citizen-arrested-in-relation-to-alleged-terror-plot-at-raf-fairford-u-s-air-base/