UK-Iranian dual national arrested over RAF Fairford incident, police say

Counter-terrorism detectives have arrested a dual British-Iranian national as part of an expanding investigation into a recent major security alert near an airbase in Gloucestershire, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old suspect was taken into custody in the Westminster area of central London on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism, according to a report by BBC News. Alongside the detention, police questioned a 26-year-old British man under caution and conducted searches at two separate residential addresses located in the vicinity.

The fresh developments follow the weekend detention of five other men who were stopped close to RAF Fairford, a military installation operated by the United States Air Force. Those individuals, all British nationals in their early to mid-twenties hailing from London, have since been released on bail while inquiries proceed.

Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, stated that detectives are exploring every avenue in what she described as a highly intricate probe. Investigators are actively assessing multiple paths, which include looking into potential links to a foreign government. Evans expressed appreciation to the public for their cooperation as specialized teams continue to gather and review evidence.

The security alert began during the early hours of Sunday morning when authorities were alerted to three suspicious vehicles moving toward the airfield. Interestingly, one of the suspects had placed an emergency call to 999 himself, BBC News reported. Following the alert, emergency protocols were enacted, prompting a heavy law enforcement deployment around the airbase.

Initial arrests of the five original suspects were made on suspicion of explosives-related offences before being broadened to include suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. While officers recovered a volume of petrol upon examining vans located near the base, forensic searches did not uncover any constructed explosive devices.

The five previously bailed suspects are aged 23 to 25, with four residing in Westminster and the fifth based in Camden. Police previously executed searches at each of their residences following their detentions. Officials described the choice to grant them bail as a deliberate operational decision rooted in ongoing tactical and investigative planning. Counter-terrorism personnel are continuing to process material gathered from the various searched properties as the inquiry develops.