UK PM Andy Burnham ‘Strong Indications’ Iran Involved in RAF Fairford Security Incident
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there are 'strong indications' Iran was involved in a suspected security incident near RAF Fairford airbase, where five British men were arrested and later bailed. While no explosives were found in three vans, petrol was recovered. The US-operated base has supported operations against Iran, prompting close bilateral coordination.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that there were “strong indications” that Iran was involved in the suspicious incident that happened at UK's RAF Fairford airbase which triggered a massive bomb scare and led to the arrest of five British nationals. The incident has brought renewed focus to the security of strategic military facilities across Britain amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation," Burnham said in an interview with the BBC. RAF Fairford is a UK airbase which is operated by the United States military and was used during the ongoing war in Iran. Iran has denied any involvement in the incident. RAF Fairford Terror Plot: All You Need To Know About the Arrests and Investigation.
On Sunday, September 27, five British men were arrested on terror charges after three white vans were discovered near the RAF Fairford airbase. The airbase, which lies 160 kilometers west of London, is operated by the US and has been used for America's multiple operations in the Middle East, including the ongoing war with Iran.
Following the alert, counter-terrorism teams and forensic specialists examined the vehicles. The UK police said that they did not find any explosives in the vans, but did find petrol. UK Police Declare Major Incident at RAF Fairford Which Hosts US Air Force, Bomb Squad Deployed and Homes Evacuated.
However, the five men, all London-based Britons in their mid-20s, were released on bail on Monday, a move which was later slammed by United States President Donald Trump. “I’m surprised that they released them, I wouldn’t have done that,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
The UK PM added that they are working with US officials to carry out a probe into the incident. “And of course, we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America," he said. He said that British officials have been “talking to counterparts in the United States all week to explain what is happening here, how things are being done”.
“I have complete confidence in the way British security services are handling this,” he added. Counter-terrorism investigators continue to examine whether the suspects acted alone or were directed by overseas elements, while security patrols remain heightened around military installations across the country.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 10:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
