UK police re-arrest two men suspected of aiding Iran at RAF Fairford
Two men detained again under National Security Act over alleged Iran plot at US-run airbase.
Key facts
- Two men, aged 24 and 25, were re-arrested on 20 October 2026.
- They are suspected of assisting Iran’s intelligence service in a plot at RAF Fairford.
- The men were first arrested on 27 September and 1 October and released on bail.
- The re-arrests are under section 3 of the 2023 National Security Act.
- UK counter-terrorism police say the investigation is highly likely to involve Iranian state actors.
On 20 October 2026, UK police re-arrested a 24‑year‑old British national and a 25‑year‑old dual British‑Iranian national on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service.
The arrests relate to a suspected plot at RAF Fairford, a United States‑run airbase in Gloucestershire that has been used for US strikes on Iran.
The men were first detained on 27 September and 1 October, released on bail after no explosives were found, and now face charges under the National Security Act.
Assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said investigators consider it highly likely that Iranian state involvement exists and are examining the level of that involvement.
The incident prompted the US to withdraw its bombers from the base and the UK Prime Minister said the plot was almost certainly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Context
RAF Fairford is a US‑run airbase used for launching strikes on Iran. The UK has declared a major incident after a public report of suspicious vans near the base. Iran denies involvement in the plot.
How outlets headlined it
How this was made
Compiled by our AI newsroom from 3 independent outlets, checked by a separate AI editor against the sources. Only claims found in the sources are reported. Spot an error? Every source is linked below.
Correction or source request? simoneggert16@gmail.com
Open reader debate: Factual contributions and additions are synchronized directly in real time across all readers.
Loading contributions from cloud server…
Reader Discussion & Community Notes