Questions remain over Iran’s link to alleged RAF Fairford bomb plot | UK security and counter-terrorism | The Guardian  (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html)   (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/manifest.json)  (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon.svg) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-512.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-360.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-240.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-120.png) (../../../../../static.guim.co.uk/images/favicon-32x32.ico) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://sourcepoint.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk) (https://hits-secure.theguardian.com) (https://interactive.guim.co.uk) (https://static.theguardian.com) (https://support.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-textegyptian/noalts-not-hinted/GuardianTextEgyptian-Regular.woff2)                                 (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/css/print.css)  (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#maincontent) Skip to main content (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#navigation) Skip to navigation (Close [ESC or Q])   Close dialogue  1 / 2   (Next image [→])   Next image  (Previous image [←])   Previous image  (Toggle caption [i])   Toggle caption                         (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions   (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters   (https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)   Sign in        US  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/us) US edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/uk) UK edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/au) Australia edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/eur) Europe edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/int) International edition      (https://www.theguardian.com/) The Guardian - Back to home             The Guardian    (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Show more    Hide expanded menu       News (https://www.theguardian.com/) View all News  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World news  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness      Opinion (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) View all Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial) The Guardian view  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/columnists) Columnists  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters) Letters  (https://www.theguardian.com/type/video+tone/comment) Opinion videos  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/cartoons) Cartoons      Sport (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) View all Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nfl) NFL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/tennis) Tennis  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/mlb) MLB  (https://www.theguardian.com/football/mls) MLS  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nba) NBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/wnba) WNBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nhl) NHL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone) F1  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/golf) Golf      Culture (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) View all Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/film) Film  (https://www.theguardian.com/books) Books  (https://www.theguardian.com/music) Music  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign) Art & design  (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio) TV & radio  (https://www.theguardian.com/stage) Stage  (https://www.theguardian.com/music/classicalmusicandopera) Classical  (https://www.theguardian.com/games) Games  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/series/design-a-better-world) Design a better world      Lifestyle (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) View all Lifestyle  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness  (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion) Fashion  (https://www.theguardian.com/food) Food  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/recipes) Recipes  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex) Love & sex  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden) Home & garden  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing) Health & fitness  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/family) Family  (https://www.theguardian.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.theguardian.com/money) Money    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)      (https://support.theguardian.com?acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D&INTCMP=side_menu_support) Support us  (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://app.adjust.com/1hskf6nd?adgroup=USHeader) Download the app   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us  (https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai) The Guardian app  (https://www.theguardian.com/video) Video  (https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/inpictures) Pictures  (https://www.theguardian.com/insidetheguardian) Inside the Guardian  (https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_US) Guardian Weekly  (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords) Crosswords  (https://www.wordiply.com) Wordiply  (https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications) Corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tips    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)   (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us         (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness                      (Armed police officers guard a checkpoint with a 'Police Stop' sign near RAF Fairford)          A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after a major incident was declared on Sunday. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA     (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       A police checkpoint near RAF Fairford after a major incident was declared on Sunday. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA       (https://www.theguardian.com/uk/uksecurity) UK security and counter-terrorism     (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/analysis) Analysis   Questions remain over Iran’s link to alleged RAF Fairford bomb plot (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dan-sabbagh) Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor     Tehran has been trying to step up attacks on targets in the west but its track record has been mixed         Mon 28 Sep 2026 17.36 EDT  First published on Mon 28 Sep 2026 13.52 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Questions remain over Iran’s link to alleged RAF Fairford bomb plot&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot?CMP=share_btn_url) Share             Investigators may be some way from determining exactly what led five men with three vans to a village just outside RAF Fairford in the small hours of Sunday – but the fact they have all been (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/28/men-arrested-raf-fairford-counter-terrorism-police) released on bail without immediate charge suggests they are not deemed to pose a serious and violent threat. In a moment where wider geopolitical tensions mean external threats are perceived to be close, the question of whether (https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran) Iran had a hand in the alleged plot remains open. Nonetheless, the bailing of the men is a mercifully lower-key development in an investigation that appeared of the utmost gravity.  (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/28/farmer-raf-fairford-no-follow-up)  Farmer who alerted police to RAF Fairford suspected bomb plot says there was ‘no follow-up’     Read more        Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, had earlier insisted that the Fairford incident “proves my point on Iran” and argued that anybody arriving on small boats should not be allowed to move around in the UK. The latter point was an irrelevant argument, already weakened when police said at lunchtime that all five were UK nationals from London. Though the five were arrested on suspicion of carrying explosives and involvement in a terror plot, after more than 24 hours of searches, nothing had been discovered that would prompt further police action – perhaps explaining why MI5 had no idea that the men and their vans would turn up a mile from the base with unclear intent.       (A US bomber and armoured car at RAF Fairford.)   (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#img-2)   View image in fullscreen       A US bomber and armoured car at RAF Fairford. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian  British officials admitted on Sunday the arrests were not led by intelligence, but rather last-minute warnings on the ground. Counter-terror police said they were first aware of three vehicles travelling to the base at 12.45am on Sunday, while (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/28/farmer-raf-fairford-no-follow-up) a local farmer phoned 999 at 1.36am after the vans blocked the entrance to her drive . The next day Trump made a characteristically inflated claim that the US and UK had been monitoring the men for “a long time” and that they had been trying to do “big damage”. Threat levels at Fairford have been at the highest level for several days, apparently backing this up – but UK sources say this was related to wider concerns about threats to US bases, not specific to the site. RAF Fairford is the European home for US air force bombers, essentially an American base on British soil. It has been used by the US in its bombing campaign against Iran, after the former prime minister Keir Starmer agreed to allow American strikes on Iranian missile launch sites in the war Donald Trump started in the spring. The base has also been a source of explicit interest to Tehran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on 23 July, as the US carried out a 13th day of consecutive bombing attacks. It said that any bases used by the US to attack Iran, including Fairford, (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/23/uk-ready-to-defend-itself-iran-threat-us-bases) were “legitimate targets” . That would give Fairford an obvious value, though it is not clear why anyone from London would feel bold enough to attack a military base, given it would be expected to be protected by armed personnel. Rational plotters probably would not expect to survive, and would at least expect the most serious penalties available under law. When the suspects’ release was announced, there was no firm information from UK counter-terror police about what explosives were found or whether there was deemed to be viable devices in the vans – the kind of information that would immediately point to the degree of intent in any terror plot. Subsequently, it emerged no explosive material had been found. (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#EmailSignup-skip-link-12) skip past newsletter promotion     Free newsletter | Every weekday    Sign up to First Edition  Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters  ()   Enter your email  ()   Sign up      after newsletter promotion   Tehran has been trying to step up attacks on targets in the west over the past three years, as fighting in the Middle East has sprawled and expanded after October 2023, and particularly after Trump joined Israel to start a full-scale war on Iran in February. But while its propagandists make heavy threats about British military bases online, Iran’s actual threat is mixed. A year ago, Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, said the Security Service had “tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in just the one year”. (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/05/two-men-convicted-of-wounding-journalist-on-orders-of-iran) Two Romanian men were found guilty in July of stabbing the Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati in the leg in Wimbledon two years earlier in a state-directed attack; he worked for the independent Persian channel Iran International. Yvette Cooper, then home secretary, sanctioned an IRGC-backed terror group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, in July after it claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in the UK, (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/28/men-admit-destroying-jewish-community-ambulances-golders-green-london) including the burning of four Jewish community ambulances in March. But while four men have pleaded guilty, evidence in the case has yet to be heard in court, with prosecutors (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/28/men-admit-destroying-jewish-community-ambulances-golders-green-london) only saying so far there was a “terrorist connection” . In April police closed and searched part of Kensington Gardens near the Israeli embassy in London after an online video appeared to suggest the building had been targeted by drones containing hazardous substances. On that occasion, nothing was found.         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/uk/uksecurity) UK security and counter-terrorism  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/iran) Iran  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East and north Africa  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-israel-war-on-iran) US-Israel war on Iran  (https://www.theguardian.com/uk/military) Military  (https://www.theguardian.com/uk/police) Police  (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/terrorism) Counter-terrorism policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/analysis) analysis    (mailto:?subject=Questions remain over Iran’s link to alleged RAF Fairford bomb plot&body=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fsep%2F28%2Fquestions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot&type=article&internalpagecode=world/2026/sep/28/questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content                  More on this story                        More on this story                       (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/28/men-arrested-raf-fairford-counter-terrorism-police)    ()      Five UK nationals arrested near RAF Fairford released on bail   (Monday, September 28, 2026 at 06:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 2h ago           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/29/uk-state-threats-bill-could-pull-british-journalists-into-terror-prosecutions-experts)    ()      UK state threats bill could pull British journalists into terror prosecutions, experts say   (Monday, June 29, 2026 at 12:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 29 Jun 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/24/starmer-pledges-law-proscribing-iran-revolutionary-guards)    ()      Starmer pledges to bring forward law proscribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards   (Friday, April 24, 2026 at 11:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 24 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/18/counter-terror-police-investigate-arson-attack-in-london)    ()      Counter-terror police investigate arson attack in north-west London   (Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 18 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/18/fourth-suspect-in-london-arson-attack-on-jewish-ambulances-remanded-in-custody)    ()      Fourth suspect in London arson attack on Jewish ambulances remanded in custody   (Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 08:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 18 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/17/three-in-court-over-arson-attack-at-persian-media-company-in-north-west-london)    ()      Three in court over attempted arson attack at Persian media company in London   (Friday, April 17, 2026 at 12:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 17 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/16/counter-terror-police-investigate-arson-attacks-on-iranian-and-jewish-targets)    ()      Counter-terror police investigate London arson attacks on Iranian and Jewish targets   (Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 02:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 16 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/15/two-arrested-over-attempted-arson-attack-on-synagogue-in-north-london)    ()      Two arrested over attempted arson attack on synagogue in north London   (Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 04:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 15 Apr 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/02/reviewer-terrorism-law-government-failing-online-threat)    ()      UK terror watchdog warns national security plan ignores escalating online threats   (Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 01:00 AM Eastern Standard Time) 2 Dec 2025           (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/06/far-right-extremists-outnumber-islamists-prevent-anti-terror-referrals-data)    ()      Far-right extremists outnumber Islamists in anti-terror programme referrals, data shows   (Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 06:49 AM Eastern Standard Time) 6 Nov 2025                        Most viewed      Most viewed                                                               (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East   (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://jobs.theguardian.com) Search jobs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (questions-remain-over-irans-link-to-alleged-raf-fairford-bomb-plot.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.(dcr)