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Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed Friday that the 25-year-old dual national, detained in Westminster on October 1 on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, has been bailed following his court appearance. Two properties in the central London borough were searched after the arrest under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, as part of the fast-moving inquiry that began with the discovery of three suspicious vans near the Gloucestershire base. The senior national coordinator, Vicki Evans, reiterated that the investigation remains hugely complex with teams interrogating multiple lines of enquiry, including possible foreign state involvement.
The Guardian reported that the initial five British nationals in their 20s, arrested near Whelford on September 27 after a farmer spotted masked men and the vehicles containing petrol but no explosives, were released on bail within 26 hours subject to stringent conditions while they remain under investigation. Those men, aged between 23 and 25 and residing in Westminster, Camden and Willesden, were detained on suspicion of explosives offences before the charges were escalated to preparation of terrorist acts. One of the group had dialled 999 about an hour before the farmer’s alert, according to accounts that have since emerged from the scene.
RAF Fairford functions as a longstanding forward operating location for US bombers, a role that intensified earlier this year when the base supported strikes on Iranian targets, prompting a July warning from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that any such facility used for aggression would constitute a legitimate target. Reuters reported that the incident raised alarm among Western allies, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserting that the hands of a foreign actor were clearly involved. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there were strong indications Iran played a part, a claim that led Tehran to summon the British ambassador.
Iran has categorically rejected the accusations, with its London embassy condemning what it termed unfounded and malicious speculations linking it to the events. The investigation continues to assess whether the individuals acted as proxies for a foreign state, either knowingly or unknowingly, while no charges have been filed against any of those arrested. A separate 26-year-old UK national was also questioned under caution in connection with the case.
The Guardian noted that the swift bail decisions reflect an investigative strategy grounded in experience rather than an assessment that no threat existed, as detectives pursue further evidence from interviews and forensic examination of the vehicles. US President Donald Trump publicly expressed surprise at the initial releases, stating he would not have freed the suspects. The probe has involved bomb disposal teams, a 400-metre cordon and the evacuation of around 85 households in the village adjacent to the base.
Counter Terrorism Policing has thanked the public for its patience as specialist teams work through the case, which has drawn sustained international attention amid heightened UK-Iran tensions. No further arrests have been reported since the dual national’s detention last week, though officials stressed the inquiry is far from complete. Searches and analysis of material seized in London and near the base remain ongoing.
