Rubio says RAF Fairford bomb plot 'clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the suspected bomb plot near RAF Fairford “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor”, in a Fox News interview late on Monday night.

“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 hands of a foreign actor,” Rubio said, adding: “There’s some things I cannot say on the air for a lot of different reasons.”

The comments follow Sunday’s arrest of five men near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Counter-terrorism police released them on bail on Monday while investigating whether individuals were acting on behalf of a foreign state. Rubio thanked UK authorities, calling them “very cooperative and on top of it”, but said “a lot of people are disturbed” by the bail releases.

Rubio also pointed to Iran, which he said had “openly threatened to attack American interests globally”, warning there would be “repercussions” if such threats were carried out. He did not directly blame Tehran for the incident, and the Telegraph reported, via WION, that counter-terrorism police are probing a possible Iran link.

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday he was “surprised” the suspects were released: “We know everything about them. We would not have released them.” Asked if Iran was linked, he said: “It might be.” Iran has denied any involvement in the plot.

Sources:

• https://www.trtworld.com/article/f736d6867168/amp
• https://www.jpost.com/international/article-910028
• https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-link-in-uk-s-fairford-airbase-bomb-plot-rubio-says-foreign-actor-was-involved-1790646471440
• https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/national/26589258.raf-fairford-suspected-terror-plot-involved-a-foreign-actor-says-marco-rubio/
• https://newswav.com/article/trump-surprised-uk-freed-airbase-suspects-on-bail-A2609_XGkPPt