Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 28
UK Police Bail 5 Men Arrested Near RAF Fairford as Terror Probe Eyes Iran, Russia Links
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 28

UK Police Bail 5 Men Arrested Near RAF Fairford as Terror Probe Eyes Iran, Russia Links

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 28

Summary

  • Five men arrested near RAF Fairford after three suspicious vehicles approached the base around 12:45 a.m. Sunday are being released on bail as the counterterrorism investigation continues.
  • A 400-meter cordon remained around three white vans while army bomb-disposal teams examined them, after police evacuated more than 85 homes near the U.S.-used air base in southern England.
  • Investigators have not said what the men were allegedly planning, but are examining possible links to Iran or Russia; Trump said the suspects had been under investigation and were looking to do "big damage."
  • RAF Fairford has flown U.S. B-52 and B-1 bomber missions against Iran since February, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned in July that any base used to strike Iranian territory would be a legitimate target.

Insights

Why were five terror suspects released on bail if they were plotting to bomb a major US air base?
Why did President Trump claim the RAF Fairford suspects were long monitored while British authorities remained entirely silent?
Did foreign adversaries use local London youths as covert proxies to target a critical military facility in the UK?