World News
Two men rearrested on suspicion of assisting Iran over RAF Fairford plot
UK counter-terrorism police say Iranian state involvement is highly likely, while Iran's London embassy rejects the links.
The short version
- Counter-terrorism police rearrested two men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national, on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- The arrests relate to a suspected plot on Sept. 27 against the U.S.-run RAF Fairford base, where police found gasoline in three vans but no explosives.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- Police say Iranian state involvement is highly likely, the Iranian Embassy in London rejects the links, five other men remain on bail, and no one has been charged.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
Key facts
- The two rearrested men, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national, are held under the National Security Act.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- Police are investigating a suspected terror plot on Sept. 27 against the U.S.-run RAF Fairford base in western England.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- Police found a quantity of gasoline in three vans at the site but no explosives or improvised explosive devices.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- Five other men arrested earlier remain on police bail.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- No one has been formally charged in connection with the incident.[CBS News · ABC News]
- The Iranian Embassy in London has categorically rejected and condemned speculation linking Iran to the incident.[CBS News]
What remains uncertain
- Iranian state involvement is an assessment by police that is attributed to the head of National Counter Terrorism Policing and has not been proven; evidence gathering is ongoing.[CBS News · BBC News · ABC News]
- The sources do not detail the nature or target of the suspected plot beyond the investigation's preliminary description.[CBS News · ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- 2 men rearrested for alleged spying for Iran in U.K. air base incidentCBS News - Top Stories
- 2 men rearrested in UK on suspicion of assisting Iran over suspected plot at a US-run air baseABC News - International
- Two re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran intelligence after RAF Fairford incidentBBC News - Top Stories
- UK police re-arrest two men on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligenceAl Jazeera
- British police rearrest 2 men on suspicion of assisting Iran over suspected plot at a U.S.-run air basePBS NewsHour - World
- 2 men rearrested in UK on suspicion of assisting Iran over suspected plot at a US-run air baseAssociated Press