World · Europe · 1 hr ago
UK rearrests two men over suspected plot at RAF Fairford
British police rearrested two men suspected of helping Iran’s intelligence service over an alleged plot at RAF Fairford in western England last month.
The men, aged 24 and 25, include a British national and a dual British-Iranian national.
Police say the suspected plot targeted a US-run airbase that has been used to bomb Iran during this year’s war.
Police found gasoline in three vans near the base, but no explosives, and residents were evacuated; the United States later pulled its bombers from the site.
Iran denies involvement, though British authorities say they consider Iranian state involvement highly likely.
Five other men were arrested earlier and released on bail, and no one has been charged.
Detectives say the investigation is continuing as they examine what role Iran may have had and what the alleged plot aimed to achieve.
British police rearrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service in a suspected plot at RAF Fairford.
The men are a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national.
Both were arrested under the National Security Act and had previously been released on bail while the investigation continued.
Police said they consider Iranian state involvement highly likely, while Iran has denied involvement.
No one has been charged, and five other men arrested earlier were released on bail.
- Who
- Two men: a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national.
- What
- They were rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service in a suspected plot.
- When
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Where
- RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run airbase in western England.
- Why
- Police suspect the men assisted Iran’s intelligence service in a plot targeting the base.
British authorities
Iran
Iranian state involvement
British authorities
Police said they consider Iranian state involvement highly likely.
Iran
Iran has denied involvement.
One suspect was first arrested on the day the suspected plot at RAF Fairford took place.
The second suspect was first arrested.
Police said they had rearrested both men under the National Security Act.
- Suspects
- A 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national
- Location
- RAF Fairford, western England
- First arrest
- September 27
- Second arrest
- October 1
- Other arrests
- Five other men in their 20s were arrested earlier and released on bail
- Charges
- No one had yet been charged
3 sources
What people are saying
This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement.
Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it
almost certainly