A 22-year-old British man was arrested in London today on suspicion of terror offences related to the suspected RAF Fairford terror plot, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
A 22-year-old male British National has been arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing in relation to the investigation into the incident at RAF Fairford last month. Counter Terrorism Policing said the man was arrested in the Borough of Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Searches of a property have also been carried out in the same area.
Six men in their 20s, five who were arrested on Sunday, September 27 and one on Thursday ,October 1, remain on police bail.
Armed police were called to the RAF airspace in Gloucestershire on September 27 after three suspicious vans were spotted and stopped.
No explosive materials were found, but a quantity of petrol was seized, police said, and four days later a sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford.
“Once again, I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and patience whilst we work through this highly complex investigation.
“We’re acutely aware of the public interest in this investigation, and we are working around the clock, and at pace, to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire. We remain committed to investigating all possible angles.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident which followed a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in London, linked to an Iran-backed group.
RAF Fairford was used by US bombers, which were removed over the weekend, although it remains unclear precisely why the US made the move.
Donald Trump said there were “some threats” that led the US to withdraw its aircraft, while secretary of state Marco Rubio sought to play down the suggestion that it was linked to security concerns.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft had been “redeployed to their home stations in the United States”, but stressed the US Air Force retained the ability to strike “anywhere, any time”.
US officials told the New York Times the redeployment of the bombers had been ordered after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend.
On Monday, Downing Street declined to comment on the withdrawal of the bombers but insisted RAF Fairford was safe.