Britain believes Iran was involved in incident near air base used by U.S., prime minister says

Add to GoogleTrump criticizes Britain for releasing suspects on bail02:01Get more newsonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSept. 30, 2026, 1:21 PM EDTBy Henry AustinLONDON — There are strong indications Tehran played a part in a security incident outside a British air base that U.S. forces use to facilitate strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday.

Burnham said he had chaired an emergency security meeting this week after the incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Sunday. Five men, all British nationals, were arrested on suspicion of terror and explosives offenses and were released on bail earlier this week.

“We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part,” he said in an interview with Sky News.

”This remains, though, a complex and very serious police investigation, so I can’t say any more at this stage,” he added.

The British Parliament is in recess, but Burnham said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to recall lawmakers “should that be necessary.”

Iran has denied any involvement in the incident.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base,” the Iranian Embassy in Britain said in a statement on X on Monday.

So far, no charges have been filed against the men, all in their 20s and from London, who were arrested after three vehicles were seen moving toward RAF Fairford, a British air force station about 90 minutes west of London.

Counterterrorism police later took over the case after a major incident was declared and dozens of homes were evacuated, disrupting life in the normally quiet, rural community of the Cotswolds.

Police declared a major incident and evacuated residents from their homes in Whelford, a village about 1 mile from RAF Fairford.David Bown / Getty ImagesResidents were allowed to return home Monday.

In an update Tuesday, the head of counterterrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, said no explosives had been found in three vans belonging to the suspects, although “a quantity of petrol” had been recovered.

“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,” he said, adding that investigators had searched properties in London.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new America.gov AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years agoFOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stageFOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammatesFOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticismFOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coastsFOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisisFOR SUBSCRIBERSMore oil is getting out of the Middle East. Why is it still so expensive?FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source saysFOR SUBSCRIBERSThe complicated bargain between ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular and the women in his orbitFOR SUBSCRIBERSSenators unveil bipartisan bill to deliver essential newborn supply kits to new momsFOR SUBSCRIBERSAI agents promise to run your errands. Websites are fighting back.FOR SUBSCRIBERSDemocrats face a staggering spending disadvantage in Georgia’s tight race for governorFOR SUBSCRIBERSObama boosts Senate Democrats with October fundraiserFOR SUBSCRIBERSTheir owner is suspended, their draft picks taken. The Clippers still believe they can win.FOR SUBSCRIBERSMLB wants a salary cap for competitive balance. Does the playoff field already have it?For SubscribersFOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new America.gov AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years agoFOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stageFOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammatesFOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticismFOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coastsFOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisisFOR SUBSCRIBERSMore oil is getting out of the Middle East. Why is it still so expensive?FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source saysFOR SUBSCRIBERSThe complicated bargain between ‘looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular and the women in his orbitFOR SUBSCRIBERSSenators unveil bipartisan bill to deliver essential newborn supply kits to new momsFOR SUBSCRIBERSAI agents promise to run your errands. Websites are fighting back.FOR SUBSCRIBERSDemocrats face a staggering spending disadvantage in Georgia’s tight race for governorFOR SUBSCRIBERSObama boosts Senate Democrats with October fundraiserFOR SUBSCRIBERSTheir owner is suspended, their draft picks taken. The Clippers still believe they can win.FOR SUBSCRIBERSMLB wants a salary cap for competitive balance. Does the playoff field already have it?In the United Kingdom, police can usually hold people for up to 24 hours before they have to charge or release them, although officers can apply to extend that time if they suspect a serious crime has been committed. Suspects arrested under the Terrorism Act can be held without charge for up to 14 days.

Tuesday’s update came after President Donald Trump told reporters he was disappointed about the decision to free the men on bail.

“I’m just disappointed that they caught terrorists — they did a good job, and then they sort of let them go,” he said, adding, “How do you give bail to a terrorist?”

Asked if it was a long-standing investigation, Trump replied, “A long-standing. Yeah, we were involved in it.”

“They put them out on bail. I assume they have, they have them watched closely. But these were serious people, seriously bad people, and they should not have done that,” he added.

Burnham said Wednesday that the men were released with the “strictest possible bail conditions,” telling the BBC: “The authorities have this under the strongest grip and closest control, and I can assure you of that.”

Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor” — an allegation British officials had not confirmed until Burnham’s comments Wednesday.

Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, gave permission for the United States to use its bases for “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran. Earlier this year, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the semiofficial Tasnim news agency that “any base used to facilitate aggression against Iranian territory is considered a legitimate target,” specifically citing bomber flights taking off from Fairford.

Henry AustinHenry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.