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Fairford terror suspects released on bail as Trump says he 'wouldn't have done that'

All five men arrested over the suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford have been released on police bail, prompting a blunt rebuke from Donald Trump, who said the plot "might be" linked to Iran.

By James Calloway · · 1 min read

All five men arrested over the suspected RAF Fairford terror plot — British nationals aged 23 to 25 from London, held early Sunday near Whelford, Gloucestershire, after three suspicious vans were found near the base — were released on police bail on Monday.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “I can confirm that following extensive interviews and enquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon. To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.”

The vans’ contents are understood to be “not viable explosives”; military assets aided the searches.

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.” He suggested the plot “might be” connected to Iran — “I know the answer. I can be very specific, but I’d rather not say it” — and of UK police: “They’ve been very good… We know everything about them [the suspects].”

Taylor said officers were weighing every angle, “including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.” Iran denied involvement; Downing Street had no immediate response.

Andy Burnham chaired a COBRA meeting later on Monday. Interior minister Shabana Mahmood said “the scene is now safe” and the ~85 evacuated households could return home. Per CNN, US B-1s have flown Iran missions from Fairford, which the US Air Force uses.

Sources

More on this topic: all UK Broadband stories

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