UK-Iranian dual national arrested over RAF Fairford investigation bailed - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d095ygggv1o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6d095ygggv1o)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d095ygggv1o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6d095ygggv1o)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fc6d095ygggv1o)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (c6d095ygggv1o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england) England   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/northern_ireland) N. Ireland   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scotland) Scotland   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales) Wales   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe/isle_of_man) Isle of Man   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe/guernsey) Guernsey   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe/jersey) Jersey   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews) Local News           UK-Iranian dual national arrested over RAF Fairford released on bail      (Two armed police officers posted outside RAF Fairford base on September 27. There is a police car, a police stop sign and two officers looking straight ahead)    Image source,  Getty Images      By Olivia Ireland     Published 3 October 2026           A UK-Iranian dual national arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with an incident at RAF Fairford has been released on bail.  The 25-year-old man was arrested in the London borough of Westminster on Thursday. Searches of two properties in the same area have now finished.  A major incident was declared and dozens of homes were evacuated after police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase in Gloucestershire last weekend. Five other men in their twenties were arrested and were subsequently released on police bail. All five were UK nationals from London. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events are continuing, police said. Last weekend, the five men aged between 23 and 25 were arrested in the early hours of the morning after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base operated by the US Air Force (USAF), sparking a major security incident. The BBC understands that one of the men had dialled 999 himself, about an hour before a local farmer alerted police to a "large group" of masked men near the vehicles. They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, before being released on bail on Monday in what police called an "investigative decision" that was "grounded in experience and strategy". Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting that afternoon in response. He later said there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident, but did not provide any more details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement. The Iranian embassy in London said on Monday that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" what it called "unfounded and malicious speculations" linking Iran to the incident.          To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played       Figure caption,  I saw masked men, farmer who called 999 says        RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades. In recent months, US bombers have taken off from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran. In July, Iran said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces". Late on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a TV show that it was clear a "foreign actor" had been involved in events over the weekend. Without providing evidence or giving further details, he told Fox News network's "Hannity" programme: "What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It's one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor." Speaking earlier at the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said he would not have let the five men arrested out on bail, and that he was "surprised" they had been released. "We know everything about them, we would not have released them," he said, adding that the UK had worked with the US "very closely" on this.      (map)         Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cllmr11nypzt) Fairford Royal Air Force Base  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cjnwl8q4ggwt) Iran  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c7ry2vnx2n5t) Westminster Council        More on this story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c65ywnl3dvzno) Watch: Were the RAF Fairford arrests 'pure luck'?      Published 5 days ago          (Split screen image. On the left, a bomb disposal robot next to two white van. On the right, BBC correspondent Frank Gardner)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr2kwlx2xve0o) What makes RAF Fairford one of the UK's most important military sites?     Published 4 days ago          (A B‑1B Lancer bomber at the RAF Fairford airbase.)                (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:31 'Really tough': Badenoch on threats to politicians. 00:01:31, play video 'Really tough': Badenoch on threats to politicians    (Badenoch speaking to Laura Kuenssberg during interview, she wears a black and white button jumper.)           1:19 Have you heard about this 90 second rule? 00:01:19, play video Have you heard about this 90 second rule?    (A bald man, Aaron Dale, with a dark beard wearing a cream jumper.)           1:25 Men in court over alleged plot to target Jewish community. 00:01:25, play video Men in court over alleged plot to target Jewish community    (Lucy Manning outside court.)           1:08 New sniffer dog team to detect drugs used in spiking. 00:01:08, play video New sniffer dog team to detect drugs used in spiking    (A black dog.)           1:22 Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris. 00:01:22, play video Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris    (A group of protestors on the street burning a bike and bin.)           1:19 Photos reveal the lives of Auschwitz perpetrators. 00:01:19, play video Photos reveal the lives of Auschwitz perpetrators    (A black and white picture of a man and woman in uniform relaxing in deckchairs)           1:15 Teammates hailed after saving footballer's life. 00:01:15, play video Teammates hailed after saving footballer's life    (Man with dark brown hair wearing a red track suit top seated)           1:04 Flydubai pilot describes cockpit attack by co-pilot. 00:01:04, play video Flydubai pilot describes cockpit attack by co-pilot    (Pilot looks into the camera as he has his head bandaged and had a breathing tube in his nose)           0:42 Polanski calls for three-year cap on rents. 00:00:42, play video Polanski calls for three-year cap on rents    (Green Party leader Zack Polanski wearing a green suit jacket and a white top.)           0:47 Olivia Dean accused of copying Just the Two of Us. 00:00:47, play video Olivia Dean accused of copying Just the Two of Us    (Olivia Dean smiles at a red carpet)           1:28 Biggest The Celebrity Traitors slip-up ever? 00:01:28, play video Biggest The Celebrity Traitors slip-up ever?    (A woman with black hair and a heavy fringe looks at someone off-camera)           1:01 ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC? 00:01:01, play video ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC?    (Two women sit together, one holds a microphone)           1:32 Is UK politics 'boomer-centric'? 00:01:32, play video Is UK politics 'boomer-centric'?    (A woman with long, light brown hair looks at someone off-camera.)           1:23 Masked men brutally attack cryptocurrency investor and wife. 00:01:23, play video Masked men brutally attack cryptocurrency investor and wife    (Two people running into a home front door as seen by home security CCTV. The men are entirely covered in black and blue outfits, hoods, gloves and masks.)           0:38 Ferguson on recovery from brain haemorrhage. 00:00:38, play video Ferguson on recovery from brain haemorrhage    (Sir Alex Ferguson)           1:44 Two pals, a missing top and the ultimate 25-year prank. 00:01:44, play video Two pals, a missing top and the ultimate 25-year prank    (An image of two middle aged men holding a green and white Celtic football strip in a kitchen. They both have beards and short dark hair.)           1:23 How Gen Z TikToks are shaping Kenyan politics. 00:01:23, play video How Gen Z TikToks are shaping Kenyan politics    (A man speaking into a microphone and holding a flag)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c61wv7lgex13o) Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says     Published 10 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmn06l362ypeo) Tories pledge to scrap £100,000 childcare 'cliff edge'     Published 4 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm046w9zdkrwt) England deliver attacking masterclass to thrash Croatia 7-0             More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3y0zdj8jlxeo) Why thousands of couples are choosing Scotland to say 'I do'      (Savannah who is blonde, fair skinned and wearing a white wedding dress stands next to her husband Hayden, who has dark hair and a beard and wearing a black suit. They stand in front of a Scottish Castle with the sunshining.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwjdmk479mr1o) The Papers: 'Another tax bombshell?' and 'Terror plot targets'      (A composite of the front pages of the Sunday Express and the Sunday Mirror on 4 October 2026.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlyljxxpypno) Award-winning garden 'gives me a reason to get up'      (Stefi Robertshaw is pictured standing in a garden on a clear and sunny day. She has long red hair which is wavy and she is wearing a dark green T-shirt with a white logo. Green plants, trees and pink flowers can be seen in the background.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6x2z2j8yjvgo) I interviewed Christa Pike 20 years ago - I can't stop thinking about her      (Helen roberts pictured at the forefront of the photograph, with Christ Pike behind her. The pair are separated by a glass window and both have brown curly hair and brown eyes.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxe30796xno) Traitors claim their first victim as Richard E Grant tries to save his skin      (Maya Jama and Richard E Grant wearing the traitors' green cloak)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3y0zx822wlzo) EV drivers love their cars, but some passengers feel sick - this could be why      (A woman wearing a white shirt sits in the back of a car. She is looking out the window and is waring a seatbelt. She doesn't look happy.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq62j2l2lx4lo) Spoiler alert! Is social media ruining big gig surprises?       (Olivia Rodrigo on her Unraveled tour. She has long dark hair and is wearing a white top and pink shorts.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck1wv7nlg7rwo) How rapist priest exploited charisma to abuse his 'cult-like' congregation      (A composite image shows two pictures of Chris Brain over a backdrop of a blue and purple rave-like party scene. On the left, Chris Brain is pictured holding a piece of communion bread over his head during a service. On the right is a portrait of him looking at the camera. He has long, dark, curly hair.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck1l6zvr9gdgo) What's really going on with the lymphatic drainage beauty trend videos?      (A head and shoulders photo of Abbey Alexandra with long dark curly hair facing the camera wearing a white vest top with her fingertips touching her collarbones)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0030pxt?at_mid=fVKv6oxdm6&at_campaign=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002csng&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) A new group of celebrities have entered the castle        (The Celebrity Traitors S2)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8swm?at_mid=aB53RLwLhQ&at_campaign=The_Food_Chain_How_to_eat_for_success_on_weight_loss_drugs&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p028z2z0&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Food_Chain_How_to_eat_for_success_on_weight_loss_drugs&at_bbc_team=BBC) How to change your diet if you are taking weight-loss drugs        (The Food Chain)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006m8dq/strictly-come-dancing?at_mid=OMNBokELus&at_campaign=Strictly_Come_Dancing_TLEO&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=b006m8dq&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Strictly_Come_Dancing_TLEO&at_bbc_team=BBC) Get your dancing shoes ready for Movie Week        (Strictly Come Dancing S24)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mylrrz?at_mid=MAVDKvDNl9&at_campaign=Whats_Up_Docs_Doctors_Notes_Focus&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=m00298p7&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Whats_Up_Docs_Doctors_Notes_Focus&at_bbc_team=BBC) Drs Chris and Xand explore the impacts of having ADHD        (What's Up Docs?)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3zxjl2pp49zo) Man shot dead as families gather for memorial       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwjdmk479mr1o) 'Another tax bombshell?' and 'Terror plot targets'       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmn06l362ypeo) Tories pledge to scrap £100,000 childcare 'cliff edge'       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c61wv7lgex13o) Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2kej47095no) 'Anger in the streets': Tens of thousands protest in Spain over housing crisis       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8zxl62yzxzxo) Tennessee prison chief to resign after Christa Pike's failed execution       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9m2mjj3yvg4o) Why Canada is preparing for a (long shot) US invasion       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwgkvy047gkno) Sinfield completes final ultramarathon challenge       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq62j2l2lx4lo) Spoiler alert! Is social media ruining big gig surprises?        10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr20w7j8jd21o) Alison Hammond returns home from hospital after rushing off This Morning               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()