The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-30 · by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent
Andy Burnham, speaking at the Labour party conference, suggested there are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in an incident near RAF Fairford where five men were arrested as part of a terror investigation. While not providing specific details due to an ongoing police inquiry, Burnham confirmed that UK authorities believe Iran is involved and stressed they are cooperating closely with U.S. counterparts. The men were initially arrested on explosives charges but released on bail under strict conditions after searches related to them across London.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In recent days, security measures at RAF Fairford, a U.S. Air Force base in Gloucestershire, England, significantly increased with armed police and roadblocks preventing access to the base. On Sunday morning, British police declared a major incident after suspicious vehicles were reported near the airbase; five UK nationals in their 20s were arrested and later released on bail for terror offenses under suspicion of involvement with explosives.
Local residents noted heavy vehicles and concrete barriers blocking entrances to the base weeks before the incident. Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances, and fire engines, were stationed near the base during heightened security measures. The arrests occurred amid increased tensions between the U.S., Iran, and the UK; Iranian officials have denied involvement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a "foreign actor" was involved, linking it to threats from adversaries like Iran, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated there are strong indications that Iran played a role in the incident, despite ongoing investigations. The U.K. and U.S. have been closely cooperating on this matter, with Burnham stating they were “on top of it.”
Written for “RAF Fairford Terror Plot Incident” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 192 other(s) covering the same event.
There are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in events in which five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as part of a terror investigation, Andy Burnham has said.
asserted
Burnham → be → investigation
Speaking to the media at the end of the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Burnham said he could not give any more details amid a police investigation, but that Iran was believed to be involved.
uncertain
Iran → speak → investigation
On Tuesday, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Washington believed “a foreign actor” was involved in the events on Sunday night at the airbase, which has been used by US planes for missions against Iran.
asserted
which → say → Iran
In an interview with BBC News, Burnham said: “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation.
asserted
it → say → course
“And of course, we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America.
asserted
we → work → America
So it’s ongoing.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Noting that he had held a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee while in Liverpool, Burnham said: “We are on top of it in every possible way imaginable.”
asserted
We → note → way
He added: “We will say more in due course, but we can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part.”
asserted
Iran → add → part
Asked why he believed this, Burnham replied: “Well I can’t go into all of those details, but obviously I wouldn’t say it lightly.”
asserted
I → ask → it
In a separate interview with Sky News, Burnham was asked if he needed to recall parliament, which is in recess for the party conference season.
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which → ask → season
He replied: “At this stage there is not an urgent need to do that, but should that arise, of course, I wouldn’t hesitate.”
asserted
I → reply → course
The five men, all in their 20s and from London, were arrested in the Gloucestershire countryside near the airbase after a local woman driving home saw a series of vans and men in masks, and called police.
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woman → arrest → police
They were first arrested on explosives charges and then later for preparing acts of terrorism.
asserted
They → arrest → terrorism
All five were released on police bail on Monday after an examination of what was found in the vans, and searches of addresses linked to them across London.
asserted
what → release → London
On Tuesday the Guardian reported increasing confidence of an Iranian link to the weekend’s events.
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Guardian → report → events
The decision to release the men has prompted criticism from the Trump administration, with Rubio saying he was “disturbed” by it.
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he → release → it
Questioned by the BBC about US criticism of the bail decision, Burnham said this had happened only with very strict conditions.
asserted
this → question → conditions
He said: “I think people need to understand that when it says released, that isn’t as people might think.
uncertain
people → say → ?
It’s obviously with the strictest possible bail conditions.
asserted
It → ’ → conditions
We’ve been talking to counterparts in the United States all week to explain what is happening here, how things are being done.
asserted
things → talk → States
I have complete confidence in the way British security services are handling this.”
asserted
services → have → this
It emerged on Tuesday that one of the five men arrested called the police to report the incident.
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one → emerge → incident
The local woman who also phoned police subsequently told newspapers that she was alarmed the men had been allowed to get so close to the airbase without apparently being noticed.
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men → phone → airbase
However, UK officials and Wes Streeting, the UK defence secretary, have indicated that security services were aware in advance of what was happening.
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what → indicate → advance
A statement from Britain’s head of counter-terrorism police hinted that officers swooped on the rural location for several reasons.
asserted
officers → hint → reasons
Assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “A police response was activated in the early hours of Sunday morning due to a range of information received, including a call from a member of the public about several vehicles acting suspiciously close to RAF Fairford.”
asserted
vehicles → say → Fairford
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