UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Iran likely behind RAF Fairford terror plot

Burnham cited strong indications of Iranian involvement and said Britain is working closely with the United States.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:58:12 GMT

British Prime Minister Andy Burnburn said there are strong indications that Iran was involved in the suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford, where five London men were arrested and later released on bail.

What happened

Police in Gloucestershire arrested five men in their early 20s from London on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack near RAF Fairford on Sunday morning. Investigators recovered petrol from three vans seized at the base perimeter but found no explosives. The suspects were released on bail about 38 hours after their arrest.

What the reports add

Standard.co.uk noted that Burnham made the statement while speaking at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool and said he had held a Cobra meeting at the event.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Burnham gave a televised interview to the BBC, repeating the same assessment.
The New York Post highlighted that Burnham described the bail terms as “the strictest possible” and that British counter‑terrorism police did not name Iran in official statements.
Both the SMH and NY Post mentioned that the base is used by U.S. bombers for strikes against Iran.
Context reports confirm that one of the five suspects placed a 999 call before police arrived, and a local farmer had earlier reported masked men and three vans near the base.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed no improvised explosive devices were found in the vans.
The five men lived in Westminster (four) and Camden (one), and searches of their London properties have been completed.

What was said

“We believe so. There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation,”

Burnham told reporters at the Labour conference, as cited by Standard.co.uk.

“Of course, we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America,”

Repeated in the BBC interview covered by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“When it says ‘released,’ that isn’t as people might think. It’s obviously with the strictest possible bail conditions,”

Quoted by the New York Post when Burnburn addressed bail conditions.

How it came about

Earlier Felo News coverage documented the arrests and the discovery of petrol rather than explosives (RAF Fairford terror plot suspect call, London suspects released on bail after petrol found). The incidents followed a farmer’s report of masked men and three vans near the base on 27 September, and a 999 call placed by one of the suspects before police detained the group, leading to the arrests and subsequent bail decisions.

Key facts

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are strong indications Iran was involved in the RAF Fairford plot. (standard.co.uk)
Five men from London, aged 23‑25, were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford. (nypost.com)
No improvised explosive devices were found; only petrol was recovered from the vans. (smh.com.au)
The five suspects were released on bail about 38 hours after their arrest. (standard.co.uk)
British authorities are working closely with U.S. counterparts on the investigation. (smh.com.au)