A UK-Iranian man arrested in London over the RAF Fairford incident has been released on bail, counter-terror police said, as investigations continue.
LONDON: A UK-Iranian dual national who was arrested over a murky major incident at a British military airbase was released on bail, counter-terror police said on Saturday.
The 25-year-old was arrested in central London on Thursday “on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts” as part of an investigation into the events Sunday near RAF Fairford in southwest England.
Five other men who were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences on Sunday near the airbase in Gloucestershire were also released on bail earlier this week.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there were “strong indications that Iran played a part” in the incident, which Tehran has rejected.
But the source and nature of the threat near the airbase — used by the US military in its war against Iran — have remained shrouded in mystery.
Police were called to the base early on Sunday over reports that “suspicious” white vans were heading towards the base, triggering an evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a “major incident”.
Days later, police said no explosives were found at the scene.
Adding to the mystery, British media reported that officers were alerted to the incident by one of the initial suspects but police have not commented on the reports.
Washington has further muddied waters by criticising the release of the suspects on bail and declaring hostile state involvement early in the investigation.
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is continuing,” UK police said in the update Saturday.
