PM says Iran played part in RAF Fairford plot as five suspects are bailed
Five British men arrested near RAF Fairford are bailed as police find petrol but no explosives, while the PM says there are strong indications Iran played a part.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
British counter-terrorism police are continuing to investigate an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after five men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday 27 September.
Police received a call at about 12.45am about three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the base. Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The men were later further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. A 400 metre cordon was put in place while Army explosive ordnance disposal experts examined three white vans, using a robot. About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution and taken to a nearby leisure centre.
Counter-terrorism policing took the lead. Police said the initial response came from a range of information, including a call from a member of the public. It later emerged that one of the five suspects had called 999 himself at about 12.45am, almost an hour before a local farmer also alerted police after seeing three vans and a group of masked men. The farmer said she believed there were between eight and ten men, and that she tried the Ministry of Defence number given to residents but got no answer.
All five men are UK nationals from London, aged between 23 and 25. After extensive questioning, they were released on police bail on Monday. Police stressed the investigation is not over and that the men remain under investigation with stringent bail conditions. No improvised explosive devices were found in the vans, but police confirmed they had recovered a quantity of petrol as an accelerant.
The base is a long-standing US Air Force facility and has been used since March for American bomber operations against Iran. The incident has therefore been treated as a possible attack on a site linked to that conflict. Iran has categorically denied any involvement. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the events clearly involved the hands of a foreign actor, without naming Iran. President Donald Trump praised the initial arrest operation but criticised the decision to release the men on bail, saying they were serious people and that he would not have released them.
In the UK, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting initially said it was too early to attribute responsibility. He thanked the member of the public who called police but said she had only a partial picture. Prime Minister Andy Burnham later said there were strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened at RAF Fairford. He said the investigation remained complex and serious, that he had chaired a Cobra meeting, and that he would not hesitate to recall Parliament if needed. Iranian officials dismissed the claim, with the Foreign Minister saying the UK was barking up the wrong tree. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed Israel had given Britain intelligence warning of an Iranian-sponsored attack.
Residents of Whelford have been allowed to return home, but armed police and cordons remain around the base. The investigation is continuing, with police examining multiple lines of inquiry, including whether the men were acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of proxies or a foreign state. No charges have been brought.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A potential link to Iran was being investigated. | |||||||
| Several men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences under the Explosives Act. | |||||||
| A resident reported seeing three vans and men in balaclavas and said she called 999. | · | ||||||
| Five men arrested over the suspected plot were released on police bail. | · | ||||||
| Police reported finding petrol in the vans and no improvised explosive device. | · | ||||||
| A number of properties were evacuated and residents were moved to a nearby leisure centre. | · | · | |||||
| Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation. | · | · | |||||
| The Prime Minister said there were strong indications Iran played a part in the suspected plot. | · | · | |||||
| The US Secretary of State said a foreign actor was involved. | · | · | |||||
| An army bomb disposal team was examining several vehicles at the scene. | · | · | · | ||||
| Donald Trump said the five men had been under observation for a long time. | · | · | · | ||||
| Donald Trump criticised the release of the five men on bail, saying he would not have freed them. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News treated the story as a rolling national security crisis, mixing live updates from Fairford with US reaction and expert context on the base's role in strikes on Iran. It pushed the bail decision and Donald Trump's criticism hard, while also giving prominence to the Prime Minister's later claim of a strong indication of Iranian involvement. Its tone was urgent and security-focused, with repeated reminders that the men remain under investigation.
- “Counter-terrorism police leading the investigation with a bomb disposal robot seen examining three vans Near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire”
- “We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part.”
- “I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that.”
BBC News leaned on security correspondents and verified detail, setting the incident against the base's role in US operations against Iran and possible Russian or Iranian hybrid activity. It was careful about attribution early on, then led on counter-terrorism updates, the bail decision, the petrol find and the twist that one suspect had called 999. Its coverage was sober and explanatory rather than reactive.
- “this was not intelligence led, so counter-terrorism police rather than say MI5 or GCHQ are the lead in this”
- “We have found a quantity of an accelerant petrol and we have recovered that as part of our investigation.”
- “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford.”
BBC ONE West focused on the local community around Whelford and Fairford, including evacuations, residents returning home and the visible security cordon. It carried national lines but framed them through local disruption, the farmer's alert and questions about how residents were informed. Its coverage was more human-scale and regionally grounded than the rolling national bulletins.
- “residents of Whelford are moving back into their homes after the Gloucestershire village was evacuated”
- “It's a little bit confusing. I was sat at work yesterday reading the news and it was all a little bit confusing”
- “We have found a quantity of an accelerant petrol and we have recovered that as part of our investigation.”
ITV1 drove the investigation angle hard, reporting that counter-terrorism police were examining whether Iran paid others to act, and later that UK authorities believed Iran played a part. It gave significant space to the farmer who raised the alarm, the release of the five London men on bail and the confusion over what was found in the vans. Its tone was more investigative and politically focused than the rolling news channels.
- “ITV News understands that one line of inquiry is looking at whether members or representatives of the Iranian regime may have paid others to take some sort of action on their behalf.”
- “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford.”
- “The five men arrested over a suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford are all UK nationals.”
Channel 4 put the geopolitical stakes and US claims at the centre, pairing Marco Rubio's foreign actor language with questions about why the suspects were bailed so quickly. It kept a critical eye on intelligence accounts and gave room to the idea that a foreign state or proxies may have used local men. Its reporting was explanatory and international in outlook.
- “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.”
- “The Prime Minister also said tonight there were strong indications that Iran had a role in the incident near RAF Fairford”
- “They didn't find explosives, but they did find a quantity of petrol.”
5 News kept its coverage tight and accessible, leading on the arrests, the bail decision and the Prime Minister's later claim of Iranian involvement. It highlighted public confusion and the farmer's role, while also carrying US reaction from Trump and Rubio. Its style was concise, with less context on the base's strategic role.
- “Five British men have been arrested over an alleged plot to bomb an RAF base in Gloucestershire.”
- “The prime minister has told 5 News there are strong indications that Iran played a part in the suspected bomb plot on an RAF base in Gloucestershire at the weekend.”
- “They didn't find any explosives so the message is the village is safe and the investigation continues”
GB News was openly sceptical and opinionated, questioning why the men were bailed and treating the shifting official accounts as evidence of confusion or weakness. It leaned heavily on Trump's criticism and framed Iran's denial as trolling, while still reporting the core police findings on petrol and no explosives. Its coverage was more polemical than the other channels.
- “no explosive devices were found in the three vans involved in a suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford.”
- “I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that.”
- “Iran categorically denies involvement”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 05:05 BST
- 15:04 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“the Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, said the investigation was well under way.”
Verified Live · Mon 28 Sept - 15:07 BST
Roz Savage, South Cotswolds Liberal Democrat MP
“So many questions. It does seem that there is this real,”
Verified Live · Mon 28 Sept - 15:09 BST
Chris Phillips, former head of the UK National Counterterrorism Security Office
“Well, we're not very much further forward, are we really?”
Verified Live · Mon 28 Sept - 21:05 BST
Wes Streeting, British Defence Secretary
“What we can say at this stage is that the response of our policing,”
The Context · Mon 28 Sept - 21:07 BST
- 21:07 BST
Philip Ingram, former senior British military and intelligence officer
“It's confusing and there's a lot going on and there's a lot going on”
The Context · Mon 28 Sept - 01:08 BST
- 01:10 BST
- 01:10 BST
Worcestershire police, police
“Worcestershire police say they were first alerted”
BBC News · Tue 29 Sept - 01:11 BST
Jason Peck, retired FBI supervisory special agent
“Jason Peck is a retired FBI supervisory special agent.”
BBC News · Tue 29 Sept - 21:18 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“I have held a Cobra meeting as I've been here at the conference in Liverpool.”
The Context · Wed 30 Sept - 21:19 BST
Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor of Politico
“Anne McElvoy, Executive Editor of Politico,”
The Context · Wed 30 Sept - 21:19 BST
George Parker, Political Editor at the Financial Times
“and George Parker, Political Editor at the Financial Times.”
The Context · Wed 30 Sept - 00:31 BST
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part”
Newscast · Thu 1 Oct
- 18:01 BST
“Counter Terrorism Policing say the investigation is not over and they are pursuing numerous”
BBC News · Mon 28 Sept - 22:02 BST
“But this afternoon a surprising update from Counter Terrorism Police about the five men whose arrest sparked this response.”
BBC News and Weather · Mon 28 Sept - 22:04 BST
Donald Trump, US President
“I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that.”
BBC News and Weather · Mon 28 Sept - 13:37 BST
Councillor Tristan Wilkinson, local Councillor on the District Council for Fairford
“I think there's two things I'm going to be looking for”
BBC News at One including... · Tue 29 Sept - 18:08 BST
“The US government has said that it clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.”
BBC News · Wed 30 Sept - 18:08 BST
- 18:08 BST
- 22:16 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford”
BBC News and Weather · Wed 30 Sept
- 18:18 BST
“Gloucestershire Police have confirmed five men have been arrested”
Channel 4 News · Sun 27 Sept - 18:19 BST
“A spokesperson for the US Air Force said they are aware of”
Channel 4 News · Sun 27 Sept - 18:19 BST
Donald Trump, President
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic. Working with Britain,”
Channel 4 News · Sun 27 Sept - 12:05 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has said the events at RAF”
Channel 4 News Summary · Tue 29 Sept - 12:05 BST
“The Iranian government has denied any involvement in the”
Channel 4 News Summary · Tue 29 Sept - 19:24 BST
- 13:30 BST
Tristan Wilkinson, Local Councillor
“Local Councillor Tristan Wilkinson has urged people to remain calm.”
ITV News · Sun 27 Sept - 18:35 BST
- 22:06 BST
Donald Trump, President
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.”
ITV News · Sun 27 Sept - 13:32 BST
Wes Streeting, the defence secretary
“Well firstly I'd say an enormous thank you to the woman who phoned in her concerns”
ITV Lunchtime News · Mon 28 Sept - 13:33 BST
Donald Trump, President
“Working with Britain it was an amazing job we had them under investigation they were looking to do big damage”
ITV Lunchtime News · Mon 28 Sept - 19:15 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“we've just had this update from the Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting.”
ITV Evening News · Mon 28 Sept - 22:04 BST
“The Iranian Embassy in London has categorically denied any involvement with the incident.”
ITV News at Ten · Mon 28 Sept - 22:04 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“This evening, Andy Burnham chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the investigation”
ITV News at Ten · Mon 28 Sept - 13:36 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“What happened, what almost happened, what could”
ITV Lunchtime News · Tue 29 Sept - 18:47 BST
- 18:48 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend”
ITV Evening News · Tue 29 Sept - 22:34 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation.”
ITV News at Ten · Tue 29 Sept
- 10:02 BST
Mary Lou McDonald, President of Sinn Fein
“People have gathered here in huge huge numbers, they've gathered because they are angry”
Sky News Today With Matt Barbet · Sun 27 Sept - 10:03 BST
Michelle O'Neill, First Minister of Northern Ireland
“We are all so proud of these people, they are still on the street overnight in defense of their own rights”
Sky News Today With Matt Barbet · Sun 27 Sept - 16:03 BST
“Gloucestershire Police's focus at this time is on the local community”
Sky News Today · Sun 27 Sept - 16:03 BST
“Today police received a call relating to three suspicious vehicles, which appeared to be traveling towards the airbase”
Sky News Today · Sun 27 Sept - 16:04 BST
- 16:04 BST
- 16:12 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“I know today's incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents”
Sky News Today · Sun 27 Sept - 22:04 BST
Donald Trump, US President
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic.”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Sun 27 Sept - 22:05 BST
Andy Burnham, British Prime Minister
“the safety and security of the public is our first priority and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe.”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Sun 27 Sept - 06:03 BST
- 06:04 BST
Andy Burnham, British Prime Minister
“the safety and security of the public is our first priority”
Mornings · Mon 28 Sept - 10:00 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“I think she acted by her own admission quickly and thoughtfully and she did the right thing.”
Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow · Mon 28 Sept - 16:28 BST
Lawrence Taylor, Assistant Commissioner
“That was Assistant Commissioner Lawrence Taylor speaking”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Mon 28 Sept - 22:01 BST
“Well, Donald Trump's reaction to this is typical of his”
The Wrap With Anna Botting · Mon 28 Sept - 22:02 BST
“I don't think he's going to be alone in being surprised though.”
The Wrap With Anna Botting · Mon 28 Sept - 22:03 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“To be very clear this does not mean that the investigation is over.”
The Wrap With Anna Botting · Mon 28 Sept - 22:04 BST
Donald Trump, US President
“I would have said don't let them have bail.”
The Wrap With Anna Botting · Mon 28 Sept - 06:01 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“What happened what almost happened what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation”
Mornings · Tue 29 Sept - 06:04 BST
Donald Trump, President
“I'm surprised that they released him. I wouldn't have done that.”
Mornings · Tue 29 Sept - 06:04 BST
Wes Streeting, defense secretary
“I can reassure the public who will be interested and want further information of two things”
Mornings · Tue 29 Sept - 16:21 BST
Marco Rubio, u.s secretary of state
“what happened what almost happened what could have happened in the uk over the weekend is a very serious situation”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Tue 29 Sept - 06:02 BST
- 19:26 BST
- 19:26 BST
Wes Streeting, defence secretary
“the defence secretary wes streeting has spoken on the latest with raf”
New: Farage · Mon 28 Sept - 19:30 BST
David Patrikarakos, daily mail special correspondence
“special correspondence David Patrikarakos”
New: Farage · Mon 28 Sept - 23:03 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“We're acutely aware that the events at RAF Fairford have caused considerable disruption to the local community”
New: Patrick Christys Tonight Late... · Mon 28 Sept - 19:24 BST
Marco Rubio, secretary
“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”
New: Farage · Tue 29 Sept - 23:39 BST
Lawrence Taylor, head of counter terrorism policing
“we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices have been found”
New: Patrick Christys Tonight Late... · Tue 29 Sept
- 12:45 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“The more we say, the more valuable that information is to those that do us harm.”
5 News at Lunchtime · Mon 28 Sept - 17:04 BST
“I can confirm that following extensive interviews and inquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.”
5 News with Dan Walker · Mon 28 Sept - 17:05 BST
Donald Trump, President of the United States of America
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation.”
5 News with Dan Walker · Mon 28 Sept - 17:06 BST
Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary
“Well, I say in the spirit of gratitude and respect to that member of the public for what she did face with that extraordinary situation.”
5 News with Dan Walker · Mon 28 Sept - 12:46 BST
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
“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. I won't get into great detail about that yet.”
5 News at Lunchtime · Tue 29 Sept - 17:19 BST
Marco Rubio, secretary of st.
“What happened what almost happened what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation”
5 News with Dan Walker · Tue 29 Sept - 17:02 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“We have strong indications that Iran played a part,”
5 News with Dan Walker · Wed 30 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.