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British authorities have linked Iran to a suspected plot near a major US military base in the United Kingdom, with Greater Manchester’s mayor confirming the connection on Wednesday. Andy Burnham told the BBC that the men arrested in connection with the incident had been released under the “strictest possible bail conditions,” and he assured the public that authorities maintained the situation under the “strongest grip and closest control.”
The confirmation came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.” British officials had not publicly confirmed that claim until Burnham spoke on Wednesday.
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No Explosives Found in Suspects’ Vehicles
Laurence Taylor, the head of counterterrorism policing, provided an update on Tuesday. He confirmed that investigators found no explosives in three vans belonging to the suspects. However, officers did recover “a quantity of petrol” from the vehicles.
“Those vehicles have been subject to extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts, and we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found,” Taylor said. Investigators also searched properties in London as part of the operation.
Residents who had been evacuated from the area returned home on Monday. The scale of the search operation reflected the seriousness with which authorities treated the suspected threat.
Trump Criticises Decision to Release Suspects on Bail
President Donald Trump publicly expressed frustration over the bail decision. Speaking to reporters, he said he was disappointed that the suspects had been freed after their arrest.
“I’m just disappointed that they caught terrorists — they did a good job, and then they sort of let them go,” Trump said. He also questioned the decision directly, asking, “How do you give bail to a terrorist?”
Trump also indicated that the United States had been involved in the investigation for some time. When asked whether it was a long-standing investigation, he confirmed it was and said, “Yeah, we were involved in it.”
He added that the suspects were “seriously bad people” and expressed concern about their release, although he acknowledged they were likely under close surveillance. Under UK law, suspects arrested under the Terrorism Act can be held without charge for up to 14 days. Standard police detention is limited to 24 hours, though officers can apply for an extension when a serious crime is suspected.
Iran’s Previous Warnings and the Base’s Role
The suspected plot carries significant geopolitical weight. Earlier this year, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any base used to support operations against Iranian territory would be considered a legitimate target. The IRGC specifically named RAF Fairford, citing bomber flights that had taken off from the base.
That warning followed a decision by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who granted the United States permission to use UK bases for what he described as “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran. Starmer is Burnham’s predecessor in that political context.
The combination of Iran’s stated threats, the proximity of the suspects to a US-linked base, and Rubio’s comments about foreign involvement has intensified scrutiny of the case. British authorities have not yet formally charged the suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
