What happened
A 22-year-old British national was arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, as part of an investigation into a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, a UK airbase that houses US bombers. This arrest is the seventh made in connection with the incident.
The suspect was taken into custody in Westminster, London, under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Previously, six other individuals had been arrested, including a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national who was released on bail.
The investigation began after a local farmer reported three suspicious vans near the airbase, leading to the arrest of five men on explosives charges. Although a bomb disposal robot was deployed, only petrol was found in the vans, and the five men were later released on bail.
Senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, stated that the police are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry and working around the clock to identify the motivation behind the events. The US has removed its heavy bombers from RAF Fairford as a precautionary measure.
