World
Trump 'surprised' UK freed airbase suspects on bail
"I'm surprised that they released them; I wouldn't have done that," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, while adding that British authorities had worked "very closely" with the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during an announcement in the Oval Office at the White House on September 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Monday that British police should not have released on bail five men who were arrested near an airbase used by the United States over a suspected bomb plot.
Trump added that the case "might be" linked to Iran but declined to give details.
"I'm surprised that they released them; I wouldn't have done that," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, while adding that British authorities had worked "very closely" with the United States.
"We know everything about them. We would not have released them."
Police continue to man a roadblock outside RAF Fairford base (L) in Fairford, south-west England on September 28, 2026, a day after British counter-terrorism police were probing "a major" incident near the base used by the US Air Force. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
The five men were arrested early Sunday near the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in southwest England, from which US bombers have taken off to target Iran since March.
British counter-terrorism police announced on Monday that the five men — all London-based Britons in their mid-20s — had been freed on bail, and that officers were probing whether a "foreign state" could be involved.
Asked whether the case was linked to Iran, Trump replied: "It might be."
Pressed to give details, Trump said: "I'd rather not. I mean, I know the answer; I could be very specific, but I'd rather not say. I would not have released them."
Iran has denied involvement in any plot to target the base.
Here's what we know so far:
Counter-terror probe
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation after authorities received reports Sunday of three "suspicious" white vans near the airbase, which has been used by the US to bomb Iran.
Police said in their latest update Monday that the five men held, who all live in inner London boroughs, were being released on bail.
"This does not mean the investigation is over," Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters in London, adding the five would be subject to "stringent" bail conditions.
He said officers were "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state".
The men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police.
They had been travelling in the three suspect vehicles, which have since been subject to "extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts".
Bomb-disposal team
Amid huge questions about what happened, authorities have not confirmed any details of the threat, but bomb-disposal experts were seen at work at the scene.
The Daily Mail and Press Association both reported late Monday they understood from sources that tests on materials in the back of the vans established they were "not viable explosives".
A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase said she rang the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
The anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed the police had "dropped the ball" on the threat.
But UK defence minister Wes Streeting said she only had a "partial picture".
Iran denies involvement
"This does not mean the investigation is over," Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, told reporters in London, adding the five would be subject to "stringent" bail conditions.
He said officers were "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state".
US Air Force bombers sit on the tarmac at RAF Fairford base in Fairford, south-west England on September 28, 2026, a day after British counter-terrorism police were probing "a major" incident near the base. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
The men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police.
They had been travelling in the three suspect vehicles, which have since been subject to "extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts".
Bomb-disposal team
Amid huge questions about what happened, authorities have not confirmed any details of the threat, but bomb-disposal experts were seen at work at the scene.
The Daily Mail and Press Association both reported late Monday they understood from sources that tests on materials in the back of the vans established they were "not viable explosives".
A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase said she rang the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
The anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed the police had "dropped the ball" on the threat.
But UK defence minister Wes Streeting said she only had a "partial picture".
Iran denies involvement
US President Donald Trump said the UK and US had the suspects "under investigation" for a while.
"They were looking to do big damage to our fort," Trump said Sunday. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
He later told reporters "we know all about them" when asked about the suspects.
"You'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them," said Trump, without giving further details.
Iran's embassy in London said on X that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation that Tehran was involved.
It criticised "the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran" to the incident.
US used base
In March, Britain gave the US permission to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source.
Since then, US bombers and other planes have been seen taking off and landing from the base -- the only one on Britain's mainland used for this purpose.
Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen increased activity and security in recent months.
Local MP Roz Savage called it "way too close a shave".
"It absolutely makes my blood run cold to think what could have happened if it hadn't been for her quick wits and timely intervention," she told AFP of the local farmer's tip-off.
Around 85 households were evacuated from the village early Sunday, and had to stay elsewhere overnight, but were allowed back to their homes late Monday.
Tehran has previously warned London against allowing its bases to be used by the US in operations against Iran.
In March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London of "putting British lives in danger" by allowing the bases to be used "for aggression against Iran".
"They were looking to do big damage to our fort," Trump said Sunday. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
He later told reporters "we know all about them" when asked about the suspects.
"You'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them," said Trump, without giving further details.
Iran's embassy in London said on X that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" speculation that Tehran was involved.
It criticised "the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran" to the incident.
US used base
In March, Britain gave the US permission to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source.
Since then, US bombers and other planes have been seen taking off and landing from the base -- the only one on Britain's mainland used for this purpose.
Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen increased activity and security in recent months.
Local MP Roz Savage called it "way too close a shave".
"It absolutely makes my blood run cold to think what could have happened if it hadn't been for her quick wits and timely intervention," she told AFP of the local farmer's tip-off.
Around 85 households were evacuated from the village early Sunday, and had to stay elsewhere overnight, but were allowed back to their homes late Monday.
Tehran has previously warned London against allowing its bases to be used by the US in operations against Iran.
In March, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused London of "putting British lives in danger" by allowing the bases to be used "for aggression against Iran".