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Suspected RAF Fairford plot: U.K. prime minister says Iran's Revolutionary Guard 'almost certainly' directed it

27 articles from 7 sources
First reported on Monday 28 September 2026 at 11:31 EDT by CBS News·Latest article on Monday 12 October 2026 at 14:52 EDT

Summary

Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford, a U.S.-run air base in England used by American bombers to strike Iran, and released on bail; British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were 'strong indications' Iran played a part. A sixth man, a dual U.K.-Iranian national, was arrested in London and also released on bail, and on October 6 police arrested a seventh man, 22, in London on suspicion of a terror offense linked to Iran, who was released on bail on October 8. The U.S. Air Force has brought all its bombers at RAF Fairford back to the United States. On October 12, Burnham said the security incident was 'almost certainly' directed by Iran, the LA Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the latter naming Iran's Revolutionary Guard and adding that all seven men arrested in the investigation have been released on bail and no one has been charged so far.

Latest: Andy Burnham said the security incident at RAF Fairford was 'almost certainly' directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard; all seven men arrested in the investigation have been released on bail and no one has been charged so far, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

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How it unfolded

  1. Monday 12 October

    Andy Burnham said the security incident at RAF Fairford was 'almost certainly' directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard; all seven men arrested in the investigation have been released on bail and no one has been charged so far, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

  2. Thursday 8 October

    Police released on bail a 22-year-old British man arrested on suspicion of plotting a terror attack at the base, the seventh man bailed in the investigation of the apparent plot aimed at RAF Fairford.

  3. Tuesday 6 October

    British police arrested a seventh man, 22, in London on suspicion of a terror offense linked to Iran over the incident at the U.S.-run air base.

  4. Sunday 4 October

    The U.S. Air Force removed all bombers from the British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack and returned them to the United States.

  5. Saturday 3 October

    The dual U.K.-Iranian national was released on bail, the sixth person taken into custody and then released as detectives investigate the incident.

  6. Thursday 1 October

    A dual U.K.-Iranian national was arrested in London over the security incident at the U.S.-run air base, and police searched two properties in the capital.

  7. Wednesday 30 September

    British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the U.K. had 'strong indications' that Iran played a part in the incident involving five men arrested near a U.S.-run air base in England.

  8. Monday 28 September

    Five suspects arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near a U.K. Royal Air Force base were released on bail, police said.