British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 22-year-old British national on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with a security incident near RAF Fairford, an airbase in Gloucestershire used by the United States Air Force.
The arrest was made in Westminster, London, on Tuesday. It is the seventh arrest linked to the incident, which took place on 27 September. No one has been charged.
Five men, aged between 23 and 25, were detained in the early hours of 27 September after vehicles were reported travelling toward the base. Police said three suspicious vehicles were found near the perimeter. Officers found a supply of gasoline in the vans but no explosives. The five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, before being released on bail.
A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested in Westminster on 1 October and subsequently released on bail. All six previously arrested individuals remain on bail under investigation.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the case "remains a live investigation" and that specialist teams continue to "pursue multiple lines of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford."
A major incident was declared following the initial alert, and dozens of homes in the area were evacuated.
RAF Fairford, located near the village of Whelford approximately 160 kilometres west of London, has been used by the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, the US flew B-1 and B-52 bombers from the base in connection with military operations in the Middle East.
On Sunday, the US withdrew its bombers from the base and returned them to the United States. It remains unclear whether the move is directly connected to the arrests.
US President Donald Trump said the aircraft were removed due to "some threats" to the base. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump was asked whether a specific threat had prompted the withdrawal.
"Yeah I think we can say that. They didn't fly out by accident," he said. "There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far."
Trump also told reporters that the people who made the threat "would be linked to Iran," without elaborating further.
Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance said the bombers were moved "out of an abundance of caution." Reports suggested the decision followed intelligence indicating Iran was plotting a drone attack on the base, though those reports have not been independently verified.
A spokesperson for US European Command said it would be "inappropriate to discuss matters of intelligence" but confirmed the US would "continue to assess the threat environment" at its bases. The spokesperson added that the US remains at the "highest state of readiness" and would take "appropriate actions to protect our people, our platforms, and the bases where our forces operate."
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK sees "strong indications" that Iran played a part in the incident, without providing further details. Iran has denied any involvement. Tehran has previously stated that it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.
Prior to Trump's remarks, a Downing Street spokesperson had insisted RAF Fairford was safe and pointed to the prime minister's earlier comments praising the UK's "police, defence and security services" in relation to the base.
The circumstances surrounding the original incident on 27 September remain largely unexplained. The investigation is ongoing.
