Two re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran intelligence after RAF Fairford incident
Two Men Re-arrested as RAF Fairford Investigation Continues
Constantvpn.com – Counter-terrorism officers have re-arrested two men in connection with a major security investigation triggered by suspicious activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last month.
The case concerns an incident in the early hours of 27 September, when police were alerted to vehicles travelling towards the airbase. The investigation is now focused on suspected assistance to a foreign intelligence service, with police stating that it relates to Iran.
A 24-year-old British man and a 25-year-old man with British and Iranian nationality are being held under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. The provision concerns conduct that may help a foreign intelligence service.
Initial arrests and renewed detention
The 24-year-old was first detained near RAF Fairford on 27 September. The 25-year-old was originally arrested in Westminster on 1 October on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Both have now been arrested again as the inquiry develops.
Seven men were initially arrested during the counter-terrorism operation. Five of them remain on police bail. Investigators are continuing to examine evidence gathered after the incident, which prompted an extensive police response in the area surrounding the airbase.
Five men had been found with petrol in three vans close to RAF Fairford. They were first arrested over possible offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Police declared a major incident after receiving reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the base at 00:45 BST on 27 September. Officers were deployed in significant numbers, while dozens of nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Bomb disposal response near the airbase
A bomb disposal team was sent to the village to inspect several vehicles. Such deployments allow specialist officers to assess whether vehicles, fuel or other items present an immediate danger and to determine whether further protective measures are required.
RAF Fairford is a US airbase in Gloucestershire, making the security response around the site particularly sensitive. The operation involved local policing alongside national counter-terrorism resources, reflecting the seriousness with which investigators viewed the reports.
Residents in the vicinity were affected by the emergency measures, including evacuations and an increased police presence in the days that followed. The immediate response was aimed at protecting the public while officers established the nature of the threat.
Police examine suspected Iranian involvement
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said officers believe Iranian state involvement is highly likely, although the precise level and purpose of any involvement remain under examination.
“This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement.”
“Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it.”
The National Security Act 2023 provides police and prosecutors with powers designed to address activity connected to threats from foreign states. In this case, the re-arrests indicate that investigators are considering whether actions near the base may have involved assistance to an overseas intelligence service.
Arrest on suspicion does not establish guilt. The inquiry remains active, and the evidence will need to be assessed before any decision is made about possible charges.
A complex and continuing inquiry
National security cases can take time because investigators may need to review large amounts of material, establish links between people and events, and assess information that cannot be handled in the same way as an ordinary criminal investigation.
“Our specialist teams have been working tirelessly to interrogate the many lines of enquiry involved in this hugely complex investigation,” he said.
The police response has moved through several stages: reports of suspicious vehicles, emergency action near RAF Fairford, initial arrests involving petrol-filled vans, and now re-arrests under legislation dealing with foreign intelligence activity.
The distinction between the earlier suspicion of terrorist preparation and the current suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service is important. Police have not said that the wider investigation has concluded; rather, they are pursuing evidence across multiple possible offences and examining the alleged role of Iran.
For people living near RAF Fairford, the incident demonstrated how quickly a local report can develop into a national security operation. The evacuation of homes and deployment of bomb disposal specialists were precautionary steps taken while officers assessed vehicles and potential risks.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about what investigators believe may have been planned, beyond the vehicles, petrol and the alleged foreign intelligence connection. That limited information reflects the continuing and sensitive nature of the case.
The two men remain in custody while the counter-terrorism investigation continues. The other five men arrested during the operation remain on bail, and detectives are still working to establish the full circumstances of the events near RAF Fairford.
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