Conflict & Security
Suspect's own 999 call emerges as five released on bail in RAF Fairford case
September 30, 2026 at 02:00 PM · Updated 16d ago
Coverage
10 reports · 5 in Arabic, 5 in English · over 15 hours
Five British men have been released on bail after their arrest near RAF Fairford as police probe possible foreign-state involvement.
- One of the five men called police himself nearly an hour before a farmer reported masked men near the base.
- Police released the five British nationals, aged 23 to 25, on bail on Monday.
- Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police are investigating multiple lines of inquiry, including possible involvement of agents acting for a foreign state.
- Iran's embassy in London denied any link to the incident, calling speculation tying Tehran to it "baseless."
- The arrests followed heightened security around the Gloucestershire airbase in the days leading up to the incident.
- Police evacuated 85 homes near the base but found no explosive devices, only petrol.
- Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said the force can share limited information while the investigation is live.
- Residents near the base said the lack of communication left them feeling unsafe during the incident.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC the government believes Iran was involved, citing strong indications from the investigation.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.
- Burnham defended the five men's release on strict bail after President Donald Trump questioned the decision.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's claim of Iran's involvement, saying London is looking for the culprit in the wrong place.







