British police release five suspects on bail after alleged plot to attack Fairford air base

On Monday, the UK's counterterrorism police released five men on bail that were detained near Fairford Air Base in Gloucestershire, while investigating whether a "foreign state" may have been involved in an alleged plot to plant explosives.

The release of the five suspects came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an emergency meeting with senior officials to ensure they had "the full picture."

Five British nationals, all from London

The five detainees, all British nationals residing in London and in their mid-20s, were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of explosives-related offenses and the "preparation of a terrorist act" under British anti-terrorism legislation.

"This does not mean the investigation is over," said Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing. He added that the five will be subject to "stringent" bail conditions and that officers are "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state."

Suspicious vans and explosive tests

The alert was triggered on Sunday following reports of three "suspicious" white vans near the base, which has been used by the United States for military operations against the Iranian regime. The vehicles have undergone a "extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts," according to the police.

The Daily Mail reported on Monday, citing sources, that tests on the materials found in the back of the vans determined they were "not viable explosives".

Trump: "They were looking to do big damage to our base"

On Monday, after hearing news of their bail, Trump said the case "might be" linked to Iran but declined to elaborate. Pressed to give details, the president said: "I'd rather not. I mean I know the answer, I could be very specific, but I'd rather not say. I would not have released them."

When asked about the suspects, Trump stated on Sunday that he "knows everything about them, and you'll be hearing about it very soon." "We were investigating them. They wanted to cause serious damage to our base," the president said.

Iran denies any connection

The Iranian Embassy in London stated on X that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation linking Tehran to the incident. It criticized "the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran" to the incident.

In July, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards threatened to attack Fairford, warning that any base used to launch attacks against their country would constitute a "legitimate target," according to The Telegraph.