UK terror suspect called police before witness reported group

A dramatic development has emerged in the investigation of the attempted terror attack near RAF Fairford in Britain, with one detail standing out as particularly unexpected.

According to reports, the woman who alerted authorities to the suspects was not the first to contact police. One of the suspects himself called police nearly an hour before the local resident raised the alarm. Authorities were already en route to the scene following the suspect's call, and investigators are now examining whether he panicked or whether the call was part of a pre-planned strategy.

Meanwhile, the Counter Terrorism Policing unit announced that no explosive devices were found in the three vans discovered near the base. Unit head Lawrence Taylor stated that "the vehicles have been thoroughly examined with the assistance of military assets and forensic specialists. We can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found, but a quantity of fuel was located." Investigators have completed searches at properties in London.

Five suspects were arrested following a foiled terror attempt near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where units of the US Air Force are stationed. A local resident reported suspicious men near several vans close to the base perimeter, and the group was filmed shirtless and in handcuffs.

The authorities' decision to release all five detainees on bail drew sharp criticism in Washington. President Donald Trump said, "I would say 'don't give them bail.' I'm surprised they were released. I wouldn't have done that." Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that "it's clear a foreign actor is involved here. I won't go into details at this stage."

Responding to the criticism, Taylor defended the release and clarified: "I understand why this development surprised many, but I want to emphasise again that this was an investigative decision, based on experience and careful consideration of police powers." He added that "the events of recent days have proven once again that the public has a crucial role in our work."

Iran's embassy in London was quick to respond to the allegations, stating it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" claims linking it to the incident. This comes against the backdrop of previous threats from the Revolutionary Guards regarding bases used for strikes against them, and an escalation in Britain's national threat level since April 2024.

RAF Fairford serves the US military for launching strikes and is considered "America's bomber base" in Europe. Rubio told Fox News that "what almost happened in Britain over the weekend is a very serious situation," and mentioned the suspected Iranian involvement. "Iran has openly threatened to attack American interests around the world. We will always take that very seriously," he clarified.

Rubio added that he has extensive information about the incident that he cannot yet share: "There's a lot more news that will come out on this in the coming days, but there's a limit to what I can say right now." The five suspects, British citizens in their 20s living in London, are suspected of planning a terrorist act and committing offences related to explosive materials.