Two Men Re-arrested on Suspicion of Assisting Iranian Intelligence Near RAF Fairford
60 sourcesUpdated Oct 23, 20261 min read
Two men from Westminster, a 24-year-old British national and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, were re-arrested on 20 October 2026 on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation relates to Iran and Iranian state involvement is highly likely. The activity occurred near RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, on September 27, when three vans were discovered nearby and US military bombers were evacuated from the base. The 24-year-old was initially arrested near the base on September 27; the 25-year-old was initially arrested in Westminster on 1 October. Seven men have been arrested in total and five remain on police bail. Vicki Evans of Counter Terrorism Policing said this remains a live investigation, specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry into events near RAF Fairford, and officers are working around the clock to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire while investigating all possible angles. She thanked the public for continued support and patience. Laurence Taylor said investigators believe there is likely to be Iranian state involvement. Some outlets describe a terror or bomb plot. Police statements centre on suspected assistance to a foreign intelligence service. The investigation remains ongoing.
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A dual national from Westminster getting involved raises questions about vetting for sensitive areas.
Re-arrests like this show the authorities are tracking Iranian intelligence efforts in Britain closely.
It's alarming these suspects were active right by RAF Fairford, a key base for our security.
