Bailed suspects remain under investigation after alleged Fairford bomb plot

Five British men arrested near the U.S.-operated RAF Fairford air base have been released on bail while counterterrorism police continue investigating a suspected bomb plot. The men, all in their 20s, were arrested early Sunday on explosives and terrorism charges near the base in England. Laurence Taylor, head of U.K.

Counter Terrorism Policing, said they remained under investigation and were subject to stringent conditions. Investigators said they were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including whether the suspects had links to Iran. Iran has denied involvement.

Police are also examining possible connections to Russia or non-state militant groups, but have not concluded whether the incident was backed by a foreign state or established a motive. The case has drawn criticism and concern in the United States. President Donald Trump said he was surprised that the men had been released on bail.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said people were disturbed by the decision and said the case clearly involved a foreign actor, without naming a country or offering further details. A police cordon remained around three vans found near the base. Army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine the vehicles, although it was unclear what was found inside.

Residents who had been evacuated began returning home, suggesting that no viable explosives had been discovered, according to the source material. A local farmer alerted police after seeing the vans blocking a road and encountering men, some with covered faces. She questioned the timing of the evacuation, while Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said she had only a partial picture of the operation.

RAF Fairford has hosted American bombers during conflicts in the Middle East and has also been the site of anti-war protests. Authorities continue to investigate whether the suspects acted knowingly or unknowingly as proxies for a foreign state.