[UPDATE] UK police release on bail the five men arrested near RAF Fairford, a base U.S. bombers use to strike Iran; Iran denies a role

Trump said he "wouldn't have done that," and the U.S. Embassy in London issued a security alert on Sunday, Sept. 27 telling Americans in Britain to be cautious.

British police released the five men arrested near RAF Fairford on bail on Monday, Sept. 28. RAF Fairford is a base the U.S. uses for strikes on Iran. They have not been charged. They are on bail with strict conditions and remain under investigation. Detectives are looking at possible links to Iran, Russia or militant groups that are not tied to any government. The suspects. All five are British men from London, aged 23 to 25. Police found them with three vans. Iran. Its London embassy "categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations." Trump. "I would have said, don't let them have bail... I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that." The U.S. response. On Sunday, Sept. 27, the U.S. Embassy in London issued a security alert telling Americans in Britain to be cautious.

PREVIOUSLY

March 6 — The first U.S. B-1B bombers for the Iran campaign landed at Fairford, after Britain agreed to let U.S. forces use its bases.
July 23 — Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared any base used to attack Iran a "legitimate target," naming Fairford and the bombers flying from it.
Sept. 27 — UK police arrested five men with three vans near Fairford after a farmer's late-night call.

Britain's 232 terrorism arrests to March 2025 most often ended in bail:

Bailed or released under investigation: 109 (47%)
Charged: 71 (31%)
Released without charge: 45 (19%)

ContextWhy bail. The men were not charged, so police released them on pre-charge bail under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Counterterrorism police set "stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others." Bail is not freedom. The men must report back to a police station, and officers can re-arrest them without a warrant if they skip that date or break a condition. Police have not said when they must return. The 14-day limit on holding terrorism suspects without charge belongs to a separate Terrorism Act power, and police have not said they used it. RAF Fairford is a British air base that U.S. bombers have used to strike Iran. At least 85 homes near the base were evacuated after the five men were arrested. A farmer spotted the men and reported them. He said: "I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me as a member of the public to see and report this."