Burnham says evidence points to Iranian role in RAF Fairford arrests

Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in events near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where five men were arrested as part of a terrorism investigation. Speaking after the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Burnham said he could not disclose further details because the police investigation remained ongoing. He said the United Kingdom was working closely with the United States.

The five men, all in their 20s and from London, were arrested in the countryside near the airbase after a local woman reported vans and masked men. They were initially arrested on explosives-related allegations and later on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. All five were released on police bail on Monday after police examined items found in the vans and searched addresses linked to them in London.

Burnham said the release involved the strictest possible conditions. The decision drew criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said he was disturbed by it. Rubio had earlier said Washington believed a foreign actor was involved in events at the base, which has been used by US aircraft for missions against Iran.

Burnham defended the decision and said he had complete confidence in the way British security services were handling the case. He added that Parliament did not currently need to be recalled, but said he would not hesitate if that changed. Police said the response was triggered by several sources of information, including the public report about suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford.

It also emerged that one of the five men had contacted police to report the incident. No charge or conclusion establishing an Iranian role has been announced in the supplied material. The investigation remains active, and the men remain on police bail.