Five Men Arrested Near RAF Fairford, Released as Iran Threats Spur B-1 Bomber Pullout
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 5
Five Men Arrested Near RAF Fairford, Released as Iran Threats Spur B-1 Bomber Pullout
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 5
Summary
Five men detained near RAF Fairford after traveling in white vans at night were released after police initially treated the case as a possible terrorism plot.
RAF Fairford had been used by the U.S. in operations against Iran, and the IRGC had warned this summer that any base used to launch attacks on Iranian territory would be a legitimate target.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were strong indications Iran played a part, though authorities have not publicly explained the evidence or reported any injuries or damage.
The episode still rattled the base: over the weekend, the U.S. military pulled its B-1 bombers from Fairford in an unusual move.
The case underscores a murkier form of conflict in which suspected threats around military infrastructure can trigger major security responses even when no attack occurs.