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FAIRFORD: British police said Monday five men arrested near an airbase used by the United States were released on bail, as Washington asserted a \u201cforeign actor\u201d was involved in the suspected bomb plot.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump, speaking in Washington, said he was \u201csurprised that they released them\u201d, adding that \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have done that\u201d.<\/p>\n
The release of the five — all London-based Britons in their mid-20s — came as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an emergency meeting of top officials to ensure they have \u201cthe full picture\u201d.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Iran had denied involvement in any plot to target the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, southwest England, following the security scare there early Sunday.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what we know so far:<\/p>\n
Counter-terror probe<\/strong><\/p>\n UK counter-terror police are leading the investigation after authorities received reports Sunday of three \u201csuspicious\u201d white vans near the airbase, which has been used by the United States to bomb Iran.<\/p>\n Police said in their latest update Monday that the five men held, who all live in inner London boroughs, were being released on bail.<\/p>\n \u201cThis does not mean the investigation is over,\u201d Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said, adding the five would be subject to \u201cstringent\u201d bail conditions.<\/p>\n He said officers were \u201cconsidering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state\u201d.<\/p>\n The men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and \u201cpreparation of a terrorist act\u201d under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police.<\/p>\n They had been travelling in the three suspect vehicles, which have since been subject to \u201cextensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts\u201d.<\/p>\n Bomb-disposal team<\/strong><\/p>\n Authorities have not confirmed details of the threat but bomb-disposal experts were seen working at the scene.<\/p>\n The Daily Mail and Press Association both reported late Monday they understood from sources that tests on materials in the back of the vans established they were \u201cnot viable explosives\u201d.<\/p>\n A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase said she rang the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.<\/p>\n The anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed the police had \u201cdropped the ball\u201d on the threat.<\/p>\n But UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting said the farmer only had a \u201cpartial picture\u201d.<\/p>\n Iran denies involvement<\/strong><\/p>\n Trump said on Sunday that Britain and United States had had the suspects \u201cunder investigation\u201d for a while and alleged \u201cthey were looking to do big damage to our fort\u201d.<\/p>\n After hearing news of their bail, Trump said Monday the case \u201cmight be\u201d linked to Iran but declined to elaborate.<\/p>\n US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident \u201cclearly involves the hands of a foreign actor\u201d, without giving further details.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s embassy in London said on X that it \u201ccategorically rejects and strongly condemns\u201d the \u201cunfounded and malicious speculations\u201d that Tehran was involved.<\/p>\n US bombers <\/strong><\/p>\n Britain gave the United States permission in March to use Fairford for \u201cspecific defensive operations into Iran\u201d to destroy Iranian missiles at source.<\/p>\n US bombers and other planes have since been seen taking off and landing from the base — the only one on Britain\u2019s mainland used for this purpose.<\/p>\n Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen increased activity and security in recent months.<\/p>\n Authorities evacuated around 85 households from the village early on Sunday, and they were allowed to return home the next day.<\/p>\n Tehran has previously warned London against allowing its bases to be used by the United States in operations against Iran.<\/p>\n Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused London of \u201cputting British lives in danger\u201d by allowing the bases to be used \u201cfor aggression against Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n