British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday said there were “strong indications” Iran was involved in an incident at a U.S.-run military air base in the peaceful west of England near RAF Fairford airport.
Three vans were discovered on the edge of the base on Sunday, resulting in the arrest of five British men in their 20s on suspicion of explosives offences and an act of terrorism. They are being held on bail one day later while investigators continue to work on the case. Later, however, police confirmed that no explosives were found inside the cars, but petrol was recovered.
British and American officials were engaged in a “complex and serious” investigation of what was happening around the airbase and why the men and their vehicles were there, Burnham said. He did not elaborate on what the suspects might have planned or say what evidence had led to authorities suspecting they were ties to Iran.
Burnham told British broadcasters that Iran was playing a role, though he said there was strong evidence for that. British officials were closely liaising with their US counterparts,” he added.
Iran has denied any involvement in the incident. This has so far been rejected by the Iranian Embassy in London, which had been briefed on the arrests earlier and stated they had no reason to believe about Tehran’s involvement, and by British counterterrorism officials, who’ve told the PA it’s open to investigating foreign-state involvement there.
US bombers have made use of RAF Fairford, which sits some 160 kilometres west of London, for military missions in the Middle East in the recent conflict between Iran. The increased focus on the facility has resulted from its strategic role.
The five suspects have also been subjected to criticism from senior U.S. officials for being set free on a bail. President Donald Trump said he would not have ever released them and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was a foreign actor. British police has backtracked on the move, claiming the suspects continue to be under investigation and have to comply with “close bail conditions.
Investigations are still in progress and police have not officially given any explanation of what exactly caused the shooting, or if it was in the interests of any foreign country.