Rubio Says Foreign Actor Behind RAF Fairford Bomb Plot

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 29 September that a foreign actor was clearly involved in a suspected bomb plot targeting RAF Fairford, the Gloucestershire airbase used by US bombers that fly missions against Iran, as five British suspects arrested over the plot were released on police bail.¹⁷²

The alert

A local farmer's report of three white vans and several men near RAF Fairford, some with their faces covered, prompted a police response. The farmer said he saw "a large group of men, some with their faces covered." Police detained five British men over suspected explosives-related offences and plotting a terrorist act, and sent bomb disposal robots to the location. Around 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated as a precaution, though villagers were later allowed to return home while a cordon remained around the vans.¹³⁴²

After examination, no explosive material was found in the vans. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer for alerting police, saying he "did exactly the right thing by calling police," while declining to discuss operational details further.¹⁶²⁴

'Foreign actor'

Speaking to Fox News, Rubio said the incident at the base, which is used by US bombers flying missions to Iran, was very serious. He noted that events at a facility used by U.S. bombers flying to Iran "was very serious." Rubio said the episode clearly involved the hand of a foreign actor, a characterisation reported across outlets in the West, the Middle East, Asia, Russia and the wider global south.⁷²⁴¹⁰

US President Donald Trump said the plot might be linked to Iran, telling reporters at the White House "It might be." He also praised the arrest operation, saying "The arrest in the U.K. was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job," and, according to one report, said the suspects were looking to do significant damage to US forces at the base.³⁶⁹

Iran's role disputed

Iran's Revolutionary Guards had said in a 23 July statement that RAF Fairford was a legitimate target. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Britain was "putting British lives in danger by allowing the bases to be used for aggression against Iran." UK officials have identified a possible Iranian connection as a major avenue of investigation and believe Iran may be operating through proxies within Britain, although no official confirmation of Iranian involvement has been made.¹³⁹

Iran's embassy in London rejected any suggestion that it played a part in what happened near RAF Fairford. It said it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns the unfounded and malicious speculations," and separately warned that "the circulation of such fabricated speculations will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK."¹⁶⁴⁹

Bail and ongoing inquiry

The five suspects were released on police bail subject to stringent conditions after extensive interviews, prompting criticism from Trump, who said, "I'd rather not. He added that he knew the answer but preferred not to spell it out directly. I would not have released them." UK authorities said the investigation remains active despite the bail decision; the release has also been read by some as suggesting detectives judged a mass-casualty attack unlikely, according to one report.⁸¹⁵⁶

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said the case "absolutely remain[s] under investigation." He noted that detectives are examining whether the men were working on behalf of a foreign state, remarking: "We are considering this from every possible angle. Including, that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state." Wes Streeting said, "We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm." UK officials convened a national emergency meeting alongside a Cobra committee session to review the situation.⁴⁹¹¹