Police arrest seventh suspect in RAF Fairford terrorism investigation

A 22-year-old British national was arrested in Westminster, London, on 6 October 2026 on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in connection with an incident close to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, counter-terror police said. It is the seventh arrest in the investigation. Officers also searched a property in the same area, and the man remains in custody. The arrest was made under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which covers preparation of terrorist acts.bbc.co.uk+1

The arrest matters because it extends an investigation that began with an incident near a base used by the United States Air Force for decades, close to the village of Whelford. A major incident was declared and dozens of homes were evacuated after police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the airbase. Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation is examining possible foreign state involvement, supported by the MI5 intelligence service.

What the seventh arrest involves

Senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, 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. She said police are working around the clock and at pace to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire, and remain committed to investigating all possible angles. Evans also thanked the public for their continued support and patience.politico.eu

The investigation started in the early hours of 27 September, when five men were arrested in the village of Whelford, outside the RAF base, after police were alerted to suspicious vans in the area. The men, aged between 23 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. They were arrested after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base.

No improvised explosive devices were found in the vehicles, but investigators recovered a quantity of petrol. The five men were released on police bail in what police called an investigative decision grounded in experience and strategy. Counter-terrorism policing defended the move, with Britain's head of counter-terrorism police saying the decision was grounded in experience and careful consideration of policing powers. Senior US politicians, including President Donald Trump, expressed surprise at the releases.

How the investigation began

A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested in Westminster on 1 October on suspicion of terrorism offences and was later released on bail. All six previously arrested men, aged in their 20s, remain on police bail. The seventh arrest on 6 October brings the total to seven, with the 22-year-old held in custody while the others are on bail.

Tensions have been high at RAF Fairford since Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in July that the base was a legitimate target. The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal of all B-1 bombers from the airbase on a Sunday, and the following day President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States had known of a threat which led them to move the bombers. The base has been used by the United States to conduct defensive strikes against Iran.straitstimes.com

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the government believes Iran to have played a part in the incident, and ministers have been briefed that Iran has various reasons for hiring proxies, who sometimes are unwitting, to carry out acts that aim to eat up resources and create chaos. Iran has denied involvement. The Iranian embassy in London said it categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations of Iranian involvement.

Where the numbers came from

Counter-terror police, supported by MI5, are investigating possible foreign state involvement as part of their enquiries. The suspected plot drew international attention after Trump's remarks about the threat linked to Iran that prompted the removal of American B-1 bombers from the base. The investigation covers events near the airbase in Gloucestershire, with the 22-year-old arrested in Westminster on 6 October and a property searched in the same area.

The six previously arrested men remain on police bail, and the 22-year-old arrested on 6 October remains in custody. Evans said police continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry. The next development to watch is the outcome of the custody period for the seventh suspect and any further arrests or charges as the live investigation continues.