Allegations of a terror plot targeting a Royal Air Force base used by US forces have drawn an unusually pointed intervention from Washington, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the incident “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor” while declining to set out the evidence.
Mr Rubio, speaking in a television interview, referred to Iran by name and noted it had threatened US interests, though he stopped short of directly blaming Tehran for what unfolded over the weekend.
Iran has strongly denied any involvement.
Calling the incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire a “very serious situation”, Mr Rubio praised the UK response and said British authorities had been “very cooperative and very helpful”.
He also said “a lot of people are disturbed” that five men arrested over the alleged plot have since been released on bail.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the events as ‘very serious’
US President Donald Trump had earlier voiced his own concern, saying he was “surprised” the suspects were freed.
The British nationals were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism after three vans were found close to RAF Fairford, a site that has been used by the US military for strikes against Iran.
About 85 households that had been evacuated were allowed to return home yesterday, though a police cordon remained around the vehicles while counter-terrorism officers continued examining the area.
It is understood the material discovered was not viable explosives, but police have said the investigation is continuing.
In comments to Fox News, Mr Rubio said: “I have to be careful. There’s some things I cannot say on the air for a lot of different reasons.
“Suffice it to say that what happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation.
“It’s one that clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor. I won’t get into great detail about that yet.
“I do want to thank the authorities in the United Kingdom who have been very cooperative and on top of it,” he added.
Earlier, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said officers were alive to speculation about a possible Iranian link and stressed that investigators were weighing “every possible angle”.
On Sunday, three vans were found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
Speaking outside New Scotland Yard yesterday, Mr Taylor said he recognised there was “significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident”.
“At Counter Terrorism Policing, we are working within this context every single day and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.
“We have, as you would expect, ensured that our protective security advice and posture remain commensurate with the threat,” he added.
“But be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state,” he said.
The five suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, central London, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.
Mr Taylor said the men were released on bail under “stringent conditions” yesterday but “absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting yesterday.
After the meeting, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said bail decisions were operational matters for police and prosecutors, and emphasised the investigation was still under way.
At the White House earlier, Mr Trump said: “I will tell you, I would have said ‘Don’t let them have bail’. I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that.”
