Two men re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran over incident at RAF Fairford
Two men have been re-arrested on suspicion assisting a foreign intelligence service
Last updated 20th Oct 2026
Two men arrested over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have been re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service.
Three suspicious vans were spotted near the airbase on September 27 and a "quantity of petrol" was found inside.
A 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old dual UK/Iranian nationa, both from the Borough of Westminster in London, were re-arrested today (20th October) on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.
Police said the country to which the investigation relates is Iran.
The 24-year-old man was first arrested near RAF Fairford on Sunday 27th September.
The 25-year-old was later arrested on Thursday 1st October in the Borough of Westminster.
Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said:
“Since the events at RAF Fairford on Sunday 27 September, our specialist teams have been working tirelessly to interrogate the many lines of enquiry involved in this hugely complex investigation.
“So far seven men have been arrested in connection with our investigation.
“As a result of the ongoing efforts of our officers, earlier today two of those men were re-arrested for offences relating to Section 3 of the National Security Act - assisting a foreign intelligence service.
“This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement. Our investigators are continuing to examine what that level of involvement was and the ambition behind it.
“Due to their sensitive nature, national security investigations can take time to progress, and I'm grateful to everyone who has given my teams the time and space needed to pursue this work thoroughly and effectively.
“From the outset our priority has been to uphold the integrity of this investigation and hold those who wish to do our country harm, accountable.
“We know the public have unanswered questions. I want to be as transparent as possible and when we are in the position to share more, we will.”
Five other men arrested in connection with the investigation remain on police bail.