British police arrested a 22-year-old on suspicion of terrorism offenses related to a potential plot against the RAF Fairford air base. The arrest occurred today, following a series of earlier arrests in connection with the investigation. Over the weekend, the U.S. Air Force evacuated bombers from the base due to concerns about an imminent attack. Nick Schifrin reports that this arrest marks the seventh in the investigation, with a senior British official indicating it is the first arrest in a week, suggesting a shift from initial police response to a more thorough counterterrorism investigation.
Last Sunday, police arrested five men on suspicion of terrorism, who were later released on bail. Although no weapons or explosives were found, they possessed gasoline, which some officials interpreted as a potential dry run or diversion. A U.S. official stated that prior to the arrests, there were indications of a possible imminent attack, prompting a lockdown of the base and the relocation of families.
Officials from both the U.S. and the U.K. have indicated that the threat was linked to Iranian-backed actions against the base, which has been used for U.S. B-1 bomber operations against Iran. The evacuation of the bombers was confirmed over the weekend, with a U.S. official noting their proximity to the base's perimeter.
Vice President J.D. Vance commented on the situation, expressing confidence that Iran is continuing its historical pattern of engaging in acts of terrorism against the U.S. He noted that the individuals responsible for the threats are facing significant challenges.
Further details about the nature of the threat include the possibility of a drone attack, a concern that has been echoed by U.S. officials at domestic bases as well. The effectiveness of drones in warfare has been highlighted by recent events in Ukraine, where a significant drone attack was executed against Russian military assets.
Vice President Vance characterized the evacuation of the bombers as a precautionary measure. British authorities have been issuing warnings about Iranian threats for years, with MI5's head, Ken McCallum, stating that the U.K. has responded to 20 Iranian-backed plots in the past three years. Ongoing counterterrorism operations against such threats are reported to be active.