RAF Fairford Suspects Released on Bail as PM Calls Cobra Meeting Over Airbase Investigation

Five men arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences have been released on police bail, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham calls a Cobra meeting over the airbase investigation. Counter Terrorism Policing said the men remain under investigation and stressed that their release does not bring the inquiry to an end.

The five British nationals, all in their twenties and from London, were detained in the Whelford area of Gloucestershire after police received a report that three suspicious vehicles appeared to be travelling towards RAF Fairford.

They were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, then further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

The case has prompted a substantial response because RAF Fairford is used by US forces and is an ongoing focus of interest for counter-terrorism officers. Police have not publicly established a motive, identified a target or said whether anyone beyond the five suspects may have been involved.

RAF Fairford Arrests Trigger Major Operation

Armed Gloucestershire Police officers responded to the report at about 12.45am on Sunday and arrested the men near the airbase. A 400-metre cordon was imposed around the vehicles while Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel carried out examinations.

Around 85 households near the site were evacuated as a precaution, with residents taken first to Cirencester Leisure Centre before alternative arrangements were made. The cordon remained in place while the operation continued, and police said emergency services would remain visible in the area.

Police have not publicly detailed the nature, capability or significance of any suspected explosive material examined during the operation. They have also not confirmed whether a viable explosive device was recovered.

Bail Does Not End the Investigation

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the men were released after 'extensive interviews and inquiries'. He added: 'To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over.'

Taylor said the suspects were released on police bail with stringent conditions, including restrictions on movement and contact with others. The conditions have not been published, the men have not been named and no charges had been announced in the latest police update.

Police are continuing to pursue multiple lines of inquiry following the arrests. The investigation is therefore active, and bail is not a determination that the allegations have been proved or disproved.

Cobra Meeting Follows Arrests

Burnham said he would chair a Cobra meeting to ensure the government had 'the full picture' of the incident. The meeting comes as counter-terrorism officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests near RAF Fairford.

Cobra's involvement does not establish who was responsible for the suspected plot or confirm any foreign-state involvement. Counter-terrorism police have said they are still working to establish a motive and are keeping an open mind as enquiries continue.

Iran's embassy in London has rejected speculation linking the country to the arrests. Police and the government have not publicly attributed responsibility for the suspected plot to Iran or to any other state.

What Happens Next in Inquiry

The inquiry is expected to involve further examination of the vehicles, witness evidence and other lines of enquiry. Police have not set a timetable for further announcements or said when charging decisions might be made.

The current position is that five suspects are on bail and remain under investigation, while authorities continue to establish what happened near RAF Fairford. Any decision on further arrests, charges or no further action will depend on the evidence gathered.