Five men released on bail in RAF Fairford terror investigation

September 28, 2026, 16:02 (UTC +3)
The five men arrested near RAF Fairford have been released on police bail, Counter Terrorism Policing said on September 28, 2026, as investigators continued examining the suspected offenses and any possible foreign-state involvement.The men, all British nationals from London aged between 23 and 25, remain under investigation and face strict restrictions on their movements and contact with others.Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators were considering whether individuals could have acted knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state. Police have not established a motive or confirmed who, if anyone, was behind the suspected activity.

The five men arrested near RAF Fairford, the Gloucestershire air base hosting US Air Force bombers used in strikes against Iran, are all UK nationals from London, Counter Terrorism Policing said on September 28, 2026.

The men are aged between 23 and 25. Three are from Westminster, one from Camden and one from Willesden. Police did not release their names.

They are being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), and police said a custody extension had been secured until later on September 28, 2026. Investigators examined the scene overnight and developed “multiple new lines of enquiry.” A cordon remained in place and was due to be reviewed later the same day.

Police ask for space as speculation grows

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described “a hugely complex and large-scale operation” involving local and national policing, the UK Ministry of Defense and local agencies.

“I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised,” Evans said. “However, I ask that at this time, CTP are given the space to work carefully and clearly.”

The statement did not say what was found in the three vehicles and made no reference to Iran or to intelligence gathered before the arrests.

Trump account differs from police chronology

US President Donald Trump said on September 27, 2026, that the men “were looking to do big damage” and had been “under view for a long time,” crediting cooperation between US and British authorities. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews that evening, he said of the suspects: “You’ll be hearing about it very soon.”

Police statements have not referred to prior surveillance. According to Counter Terrorism Policing, officers received a call at around 00:45 local time on September 27, 2026, about three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the base. The Telegraph reported that the call came from a local farmer who saw several masked men run into nearby fields.

According to BBC, the five men arrested near RAF Fairford over suspicion of offenses under the UK’s Explosives Act in the have been additionally charged with “plotting to commit a terrorist act.” This comes following a press conference by police. No state or non-state actor… pic.twitter.com/R0Jea1forU— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 27, 2026

Armed officers arrested the five men in the nearby village of Whelford on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and of preparation of a terrorist act. British Army bomb-disposal specialists examined the vehicles inside a cordon of 400 meters (approximately 1,300 feet), and around 85 households were evacuated.

RAF Fairford – crash gates blocked by heavy plant vehicles to prevent VBIED attacks pic.twitter.com/nRpivd0pMe— Adastral Trader (@adastral_trader) September 27, 2026

RAF Fairford has been central to US operations against Iran

A US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber taxiing at RAF Fairford. (Credit: U.S. Air Force photo)RAF Fairford is the US Air Force’s dedicated forward operating location for heavy bombers in Europe.

Eighteen B-1B Lancer and B-52H Stratofortress bombers arrived there between March 6 and 13, 2026, to fly missions in the US-led air campaign against Iran.

Their continuous use of the base led organizers to cancel the 2026 Royal International Air Tattoo.

Security precautions at RAF Fairford had already intensified before the arrests. Aviation spotters reported B-1B bombers being dispersed across separate parking stands on September 26, 2026.

Spotters at Fairford this week have noted that security measures at the base are significantly increased compared with the last 7-8 months.Reports say FPCON Delta is current at Fairford, and FPCON Charlie is now in place at Lakenheath & possibly Mildenhall…@MATA_osint https://t.co/RSKzM9enIV pic.twitter.com/vPZyX829r7— DefenceGeek (@DefenceGeek) September 26, 2026

Investigators are examining whether the incident may have a connection to Iran, according to several media reports. ITV News reported that investigators were examining whether representatives of the Iranian regime had paid others to carry out the suspected plot, a possibility police have not publicly confirmed.

The possibility is being examined against the backdrop of previous Iranian warnings concerning RAF Fairford.

In July 2026, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said bases used to launch attacks against Iranian territory would be regarded as legitimate targets. The warning specifically referred to US B-1 bombers operating from RAF Fairford.

British bases have already been exposed to the conflict. A drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in the early hours of March 2, 2026, causing minor damage and no casualties.The post Five men released on bail in RAF Fairford terror investigation appeared first on AeroTime.

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