By Luke Hunter
Correspondent
Over 80 homes were evacuated in the early morning of Monday, Sept. 28 in the rural countryside of Cotswolds, UK. According to NBC News, the evacuation order followed the arrest of five London men suspected of terrorism.
The London men were arrested after a concerned farmer called the authorities and reported three suspicious vans, driving in the direction of RAF Fairford.
The Guardian reported that tensions have been high at RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force Station which sits about 90 minutes west of London, since July when the Iranian Revolutionary Guards cited the base as a legitimate target.
The five London men, whose ages ranged between early to mid 20s, were later released on bail the following day. NBC News reported that the men were released after “extensive interviews and inquiries.” However, Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that the suspects release “does not mean that the investigation is over.”
When asked if British authorities had been aware of the threat prior to the concerns of the local farmer, Defense Minister Wes Streeting said that the farmer “did the right thing.”
“We know everything about them. We would not have released them.” stated U.S. President Donald Trump, in the wake of the five men being released on bail, The Guardian reported.
Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio expressed dismay over the release of the five suspects. The Guardian quoted the Secretary as stating he was “disturbed that some of these people [being investigated] have been released on bail.”
Rubio later stated in an interview with Fox News that the suspected terrorist plot stopped outside RAF Fairford involved a “Foreign actor.”
According to NBC News, The Iranian government acting through their London embassy, released a statement denying any link between Tehran and the five individuals.
In spite of this, the Washington Post reported that the U.K. Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that “there are strong indications” Iran was involved in the suspected terrorist plan.
According to the Washington Post, Burnham’s statement marks the first time the U.K. government has linked Iran to the suspected plot.
The Times reports that British investigators believe that the five individuals detained outside RAF Fairford were offered small amounts of cash to act as proxies.
British investigators are examining potential scenarios in which the Iranian government may have recruited individuals in the U.K. to test security throughout the country. Investigators believe that recruited individuals may be acting unknowingly on behalf of Tehran.
While the five men have been released on bail the The New York Times reported that depending on what is found by British investigators, charges can still be brought forward. Investigations remain ongoing.
