US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has asserted that the arrest of five men on explosives and terrorism charges near an RAF base in southern England “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” though he declined to name a specific country. The comments came as British counter-terrorism police investigate whether the incident is linked to Iran.
Speaking on Fox News on Monday evening, Rubio described the situation as “very serious” but offered no evidence to support his claim of foreign involvement. His remarks follow the detention of the five suspects, all British nationals in their twenties from London, who were arrested early on Sunday after three vans were spotted near RAF Fairford, a UK-owned base used by US bombers during operations in the Middle East, including the recent conflict with Iran.
Iran’s embassy in London responded on X, stating it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” what it called “unfounded and malicious speculations” regarding Tehran’s involvement.
The five men were released on bail on Monday, with counter-terrorism detectives saying they are pursuing “multiple lines of inquiry.” Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that the suspects face stringent conditions and “absolutely remain under investigation.” He noted that inquiries include whether the alleged offenses were committed by “proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”
Investigation widens
Investigators have not concluded whether the incident was state-backed. They are examining possible links to Iran, Russia, or non-state militant groups. RAF Fairford has also been a focus for anti-war protesters, but the arrests followed a late-night call about “suspicious vehicles” near the base.
A local farmer told police she saw three oddly parked vans and a “large group of men,” some with faces covered, who scattered when she approached. She declined to be identified, citing concerns about security lapses. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting praised her actions, saying she “did exactly the right thing” but only had “a partial view” of the operation.
Residents from 85 homes in the village of Whelford were evacuated on Sunday while army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine the vans. They were allowed to return late Monday, though a cordon remained. Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a meeting of the COBRA emergency committee on Monday to ensure a full picture of the incident.
US President Donald Trump claimed the suspects had been detained following cooperation between Washington and London and had been “under view” for some time. Police, however, said the arrests were triggered by the farmer’s call.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over hostile state activity in Europe. British intelligence services have warned that Russia and Iran have used proxies to commit crimes on UK soil. In March, officials reported a 50% increase in national security cases involving hostile states, including Iran, in the six months to December 2025.
Iran has been linked to a series of attacks across Europe, including arson and other incidents targeting Jewish communities. British security officials have previously cautioned that Tehran could expand its targets if Middle East conflicts persist. The UK did not join the US and Israel in the Iran war that began in February, but allowed the US to use British bases for “defensive” operations after Iranian attacks on UK interests.
American B-1 and B-52 bombers have operated from Fairford during the conflict, and Iran has stated it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target. The investigation continues, with police yet to confirm whether viable explosives were found.
