US President Donald Trump has said he is “surprised” five suspects were released on bail over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford, adding that he would not have released them.
Five British nationals were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism on Sunday after three suspicious vans were found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which is used by the US Air Force.
The men were released on bail on Monday after police found no viable explosives on the site, but detectives stressed the men “absolutely remain under investigation”.
Following speculation Iran could have been involved in the plot, police said they are considering “every possible angle” including the use of proxies by a hostile state.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Mr Trump said he would not have released the suspects, adding the plot “might be” connected to Iran.
“I would have said, don't let them have bail, cashless bail,” he said. “Is it cashless bail? I guess that was one of the problems that we had, which started the whole mess of crime, and we're ending cashless bail. But over there, I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have deadlines. Look, they've been very good. They worked with us very closely."
Pressed on whether Iran was involved he said: “I'd rather not. I mean, I know the answer. I can be very specific, but I'd rather not say it. But I would not have released them.”
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Monday, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: “Following extensive interviews and inquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.
“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry”.
He said there is “significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context” is related to the incident, adding his officers are keeping an “open mind” during their investigation.
“But be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state,” he said.
“To respond to incidents such as these, rapid mobilisation is necessary, as we cannot take the risk whilst assessing that threat. However, once we understand the threat more clearly, we seek to return affected communities to normality as quickly as possible.”
Prime minister Andy Burnham held a Cobra meeting on Monday evening “to make sure we have the full picture”, he told LBC.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, said “the police and the security services have done everything that they could and should have been doing rapidly to help contain this situation”.
Iran’s London embassy earlier said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” of Iranian involvement.
The five suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, central London, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.
Dozens of families who were evacuated from their homes during the incident were allowed to return on Monday.
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