UK-Iranian Dual National Arrested Over the Fairford Incident
A 27-year-old man holding British and Iranian citizenship has been arrested in Westminster on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with the events at RAF Fairford. A second man, a 26-year-old British national, has been questioned under caution and two properties searched. The five men detained near the Gloucestershire base on Sunday all remain on police bail.
This is the first arrest to put an Iranian connection into the investigation itself rather than into ministerial language. The Prime Minister said on Wednesday there were “strong indications” Iran played a part, which was an unusual thing to say with suspects on bail and nobody charged; today’s arrest gives that claim an evidential shape it did not have. Counter Terrorism Policing is careful to keep it at the level of possibility. Its senior national coordinator Vicki Evans said the force is examining “all possible angles — including foreign state involvement”, and that the investigation “is hugely complex, and our specialist teams are interrogating multiple lines of enquiry”. Note what has not changed: the five arrested on Sunday are all British nationals from London, they are still on bail, and police found petrol but no explosives in the three vans. Tehran denies any involvement. Watch whether anyone is charged before the Commons returns on 12 October, because a statement will be demanded either way.