No explosives found near RAF Fairford as five suspects bailed — SkimNews
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- UK Counter Terrorism Policing released five British men in their 20s on bail a day after their Sunday arrest near RAF Fairford on explosives and terrorism charges, with head Laurence Taylor saying they "absolutely remain under investigation" under strict conditions.
- Laurence Taylor confirmed Tuesday that no explosives were found in three vans near the base, though "a quantity of petrol was recovered," and police cordons remained in place as armed officers continued examining the scene.
- Donald Trump told reporters he was surprised the suspects were freed, saying "I wouldn't have done that," and claimed the men had been detained following U.S.-UK cooperation and "under view" for some time — a claim police partially contradicted by saying the arrests were triggered by a late-night farmer's call.
- Marco Rubio told Fox News the case "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor" without naming a country, while UK authorities said lines of inquiry include whether the suspects were proxies working on behalf of Iran, Russia, or non-state militant groups.
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK "shouldn't be cowed by sabre rattling from Iran"; Iran's embassy denied involvement in the suspected plot.
- A local farmer who called police about the suspicious vans said hours passed before authorities evacuated nearby residents, prompting local MP Roz Savage to say residents had "anger and anxiety" and "more questions than answers" about the security response.
- British officials said national security cases involving hostile states, including Iran, increased 50% in the six months to December 2025, while RAF Fairford — used by U.S. bombers during the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq war, and this year's U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran — remained a focus of anti-war protests.
Why it matters: The case carries geopolitical weight beyond a local bomb scare: RAF Fairford hosted U.S. bombers in this year's bombardment of Iran, and UK officials just flagged a 50% rise in hostile-state security cases over six months — yet suspects walked free on bail after no explosives turned up, deepening uncertainty about whether authorities actually have evidence of a state-backed plot or are floating Iran as the prime explanation.
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