Five British Nationals Released on Bail After Alleged Terror Plot Near U.S.-Used Air Base

Original article here

Five British nationals arrested over an alleged terrorist plot near RAF Fairford have been released on bail as authorities investigate whether a foreign state played a role.

British counterterrorism officials said Monday that the five London residents, all in their 20s, were released following “extensive interviews.” Police stressed that the investigation remains active and said the suspects face strict conditions governing their movements and contacts.

The men were arrested Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses. The strategically important British installation is used by the U.S. military and was used by American bombers during operations against Iran earlier this year.

Authorities have provided little information about the suspects beyond their ages, London residences and British citizenship. Police are investigating whether the alleged activity involved individuals acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.

Questions have also emerged about how the alleged plot was discovered.

A local farmer said she contacted police after encountering three suspicious vans near the base early Sunday and seeing masked men scatter after noticing her. Authorities have thanked the woman but cautioned that her account represents only part of what occurred.

The lack of publicly released information has prompted calls from British lawmakers for greater transparency about the suspects and the circumstances surrounding their arrests.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the suspects had been under surveillance for a “long time,” while local accounts have raised questions about what role the farmer’s call played in triggering the police response.

Counterterrorism officials, meanwhile, have emphasized that releasing the suspects on bail does not clear them.

“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over,” Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said.

Iran has denied involvement in the incident as British authorities continue investigating potential foreign-state connections.