UK rearrests two men over suspected Iran-linked plot at RAF Fairford air base
Counter-terrorism police say Iranian state involvement is 'highly likely' in the September 27 incident at the US-run base used for bombing missions against Iran. Iran's embassy calls the claims 'unfounded and malicious'.
At a glance
- UK counter-terrorism police rearrested two men — a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national — on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service on Tuesday, October 20.
- The arrests relate to a suspected plot on September 27 at RAF Fairford, a US-run base in western England used for bombing missions against Iran.
- Police found petrol, described as an accelerant, in three vans at the site but no explosives; five other men remain on bail and nobody has been charged.
- Police say Iranian state involvement is 'highly likely'; Iran's embassy rejects the claims, and the US Air Force has moved its bombers away from Fairford.
British counter-terrorism police have rearrested two men on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence service, in the investigation into a suspected plot against RAF Fairford — a US-run air base in western England used for bombing missions against Iran.
The arrests
| Date | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Suspects | A 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national |
| Law | National Security Act |
| Status | Both previously arrested and bailed; rearrested |
| Others | Five more men remain on bail |
| Charges | None so far |
What happened at Fairford
On September 27, armed police and army bomb-disposal teams were sent to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after a suspected plot. Scores of nearby residents were evacuated. Investigators later found petrol, described as an accelerant, in three vans at the site, but no explosives.
RAF Fairford is operated by the US Air Force and has hosted American bombers used in strikes on Iran during the current war. After British authorities linked Tehran to the incident, the US Air Force moved all its bombers away from the base earlier in October.
What police and Iran say
Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said officers are following "many lines of enquiry" in a "hugely complex investigation", and that it is "highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement". Investigators are examining the extent and intent of that involvement.
The Iranian Embassy in London rejected the claims, calling speculation linking Iran to the incident "unfounded and malicious".
Background
British security officials have repeatedly warned about Iranian-backed plots in the UK, including threats against dissidents and journalists. The National Security Act 2023 created new offences of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Since the US–Israeli war with Iran began in February 2026, bases in Britain and Europe used by US forces have been on heightened alert.
Why it matters
An Iranian-linked attack on a military base on British soil would be a major escalation and could draw the UK more deeply into the conflict. It also raises questions about the security of bases hosting US aircraft across Europe.
What is the National Security Act?
The UK's National Security Act 2023 replaced old official-secrets laws and created new offences, including assisting a foreign intelligence service, foreign interference and sabotage. People arrested under it can be held for questioning for up to 14 days with court approval. The government has also placed Iran on the enhanced tier of its Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, meaning anyone acting at the direction of the Iranian state in the UK must register or face prosecution.
What happens next
Police can question the two men before deciding whether to charge them, release them on bail or free them without charge. The wider investigation into the seven suspects continues.
Questions people are asking
What happened at RAF Fairford?
On September 27, 2026, police responded to a suspected plot at the US-run RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. Residents were evacuated and petrol was found in three vans, but no explosives. Police say Iranian state involvement is highly likely.
Has anyone been charged over the RAF Fairford incident?
No. Two men were rearrested on October 20 under the National Security Act, and five others remain on bail, but nobody has been charged.
What is RAF Fairford used for?
It is a Royal Air Force station in western England operated by the US Air Force and used as a base for American bombers, including for missions against Iran during the current war.
