[UPDATE] UK police arrest a seventh RAF Fairford suspect, a 22-year-old British man, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts
The six earlier suspects remain out on bail, and all 12 U.S. B-1 bombers pulled from the base are now back in the United States.
British counterterrorism police arrested a 22-year-old British man in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. The case is a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, a base 100 miles west of London that U.S. bombers use to strike Iran. Police said the arrest came out of the ongoing investigation, not the first-day sweep. The six before him. British police have released every earlier suspect on bail, none of them charged: the five men arrested near the base on Sunday, Sept. 27, within days, and the sixth, a 27-year-old UK-Iranian national, on Saturday, Oct. 3. Trump said of the first bail decision, "I wouldn't have done that." Andy Burnham (Prime Minister, UK) said Britain sees "strong indications" Iran played a part. Still open. Officials have not said what ties any suspect to Iran or to a drone plan.
PREVIOUSLY
- Sept. 27–30 — An incident at RAF Fairford led to five arrests. Police found gasoline in three vans and no explosives, then bailed all five.
- Oct. 1 — Police arrested a sixth suspect, a 27-year-old UK-Iranian national, in Westminster.
- Oct. 3 — He was released on bail, which left all six suspects free.
- Oct. 4 — The Pentagon flew all 12 B-1 bombers out of Fairford without giving a reason.
- Oct. 5 — Trump said threats drove the move, hours after Rubio called it a routine rotation. U.S. officials described an Iranian drone plot to kill American pilots.