UK PM Says Iran's IRGC 'Highly Likely' Behind RAF Fairford Plot
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told parliament on Monday that a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford airbase in southwest England was "highly likely" to have been coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The airbase had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran before five British men were arrested nearby on September 27 on suspected terrorism and explosive offences. The suspects have since been released without charge on police bail under stringent conditions, while Iran has categorically denied any involvement in the incident.
Key Points
- Five British men were arrested in the early hours of September 27 near RAF Fairford in southwest England on suspected terrorism and explosive offences
- All five detained men were later released without charge on police bail "under stringent conditions"
- Two other arrested men, including a British-Iranian national, have also been released
- Police found petrol but no viable explosive in vans seized alongside the five men
- US President Donald Trump said an Iran-linked threat prompted the decision to withdraw US bombers from RAF Fairford
Why It Matters
The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Britain and Iran, with direct accusations against the IRGC potentially complicating diplomatic relations. The case also highlights the vulnerability of allied military installations to potential drone attacks, prompting broader reassessments of security protocols at US and UK military bases across Europe .
The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Britain and Iran, with direct accusations against the IRGC potentially complicating diplomatic relations. The case also highlights the vulnerability of allied military installations to potential drone attacks, prompting broader reassessments of security protocols at US and UK military bases across Europe .