Andy Burnham Tells Britons Not To Speculate on RAF Fairford as Nigel Farage Raises Iran 'Small Boats' Theory

Five men were arrested on suspicion of terror and explosives offences while travelling towards RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Some of the residents were evacuated in the early hours of Sunday while an explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to examine the vehicles.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a bid to calm Britons, cautioned against speculating about the incident. 'I know today's incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country,' he said.

Burnham Says To Avoid Speculation

'The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts,' Burnham said. 'My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe.'

'I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out. 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,' he added.

Around 400 metres (1312 feet) of the area had been cordoned off while the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was examining the area. Some 85 households were evacuated as a precaution.

Many were unhappy with Burnham's statement, especially critics from the other side of the political fence. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed he had been feeding authorities information about Iranian spies coming to the UK via small boats.

What Does Iran Have To Do With It?

The UK has allowed the United States to use RAF Fairford to launch strikes against Iranian targets since March 2026. Four months later, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that bases used to launch attacks against Iran are considered legitimate targets for reprisal.

There is no word on whether Iran has anything to do with the recent Gloucestershire incident or whether the arrested men were even of Iranian descent. But Farage said on social media: 'I have been warning both in and out of Parliament for many months about Iranian agents coming into the UK via small boats across the Channel.'

'We deserve to be told the truth about the Fairford bomb plotters' identities,' Farage also said. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) is leading the investigation of the RAF Fairford incident.

According to CTP's report: 'At around 12:45am today (Sunday 27 September), police received a call relating to three suspicious vehicles which appeared to be travelling towards the air base. Armed officers responded and five men were arrested in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act.'

CTP has reiterated Burnham's statement: 'We would ask the public not to speculate but to follow official channels for updates.' MP Richard Tice, who is also chair of Reform UK, also asked authorities to release information about the arrested men: 'The Govt must tell us the truth about the identities, arrival times and provenance and residence status of those arrested outside RAF Fairford.'

'The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents,' said Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone. 'A cordon is in place as a precaution and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time.'