British authorities arrested a 22-year-old man in London on suspicion of a terror offense linked to a security incident at a U.S.-run military air base in England, which officials have connected to Iran. This marks the seventh arrest in the ongoing investigation regarding a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, located 100 miles west of London. The base has previously been utilized by American bombers during ongoing military actions. Counter Terrorism Policing stated that the suspect, a British national, was detained in the Westminster district of central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Six other individuals previously arrested in connection with the probe were released on bail while investigations and monitoring continue. The decision to release those suspects drew criticism from President Trump. Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, emphasized that detectives are actively pursuing multiple lines of inquiry and exploring all possible angles. The investigation follows an incident on Sept. 27 that led to the evacuation of numerous residents near the base as armed officers and military bomb-disposal experts deployed to the rural area. Police later reported discovering gasoline, an accelerant, inside three vans linked to the suspects, though no explosives were recovered. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the U.K. has observed strong indications of Iranian involvement, though specific details regarding the nature of the plot have not been disclosed. President Trump previously remarked that Iran might be involved, noting close cooperation between U.S. and British authorities and expressing disagreement with the decision to release earlier suspects from custody. Iran has denied any connection to the incident while maintaining its stance that military bases used to attack its territory are considered legitimate targets. Meanwhile, the U.S. military relocated its B-52 and B-1 bombers away from RAF Fairford, though officials did not explicitly confirm if the relocation was directly tied to the arrests. President Trump explained in Washington that the bombers were moved to alleviate risks following a threat linked to Iran.
Source: cbsnews.com
