British counterterrorism police confirmed Tuesday that no explosives were discovered in vehicles searched after five men were arrested in connection with a major security operation near RAF Fairford, a U.S. Air Force base used to facilitate strikes on Iran.
In an update explaining Monday’s decision to release all five suspects on bail, Laurence Taylor, Britain’s head of counterterrorism policing, said “a quantity” of gasoline was recovered from three vans near the air base.
“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,” Taylor said, adding that investigators had also searched properties in London.
Release on Bail Sparks Political Reaction
Taylor described the decision to release the men on bail as an “investigative decision” grounded in experience and careful consideration of policing powers. No charges have been filed against the suspects.
President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that he was disappointed by the outcome.
“I’m just disappointed that they caught terrorists, they did a good job, and then they sort of let them go,” Trump said, adding, “How do you give bail to a terrorist?”
Asked whether the investigation had been long-standing, Trump replied, “Yeah, we were involved in it.”
“These were serious people, seriously bad people, and they should not have done that,” he added.
Trump also expressed surprise at the decision to grant bail. “I would have said, ‘Don’t let them have bail,'” he said in the Oval Office. “I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that.”
The president indicated that U.S. officials were cooperating closely with their British counterparts, stating that the United States knew “everything” about the suspects.
Foreign Actor Allegation Raised
Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor” — an allegation British officials have not confirmed.
The five men, all British nationals in their 20s from London, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after three vehicles were seen moving toward RAF Fairford, a British air force station about 90 minutes west of London.
Counterterrorism police took over the case after a major incident was declared, disrupting life in the normally quiet, rural community of the Cotswolds.
Police said the men were arrested on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act, British legislation dating to 1875 that regulates the manufacturing, keeping, selling, carrying and importing of gunpowder and explosive substances. The men were further suspected of preparation of a terrorist act.
Legal Analysis of Custody Decision
“What seems to be happening is that you’ve got a developing investigation where the custody clock for the terrorism arrest, which is a very long custody clock, has stopped,” said Max Hill, a former director of public prosecutions of England and Wales.
In the U.K., police can usually hold people for up to 24 hours before they must 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.
“So there must be an element of uncertainty about whether ultimately any terrorism-related charges are going to emerge,” Hill said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Releasing the suspects on bail also does not mean they will not be taken back into custody, he added. “But it does indicate that there’s just not enough for a formal remand application.”
Iran Connection Questioned
The incident prompted questions about whether a foreign actor could be involved — in particular, Iran. Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Britain this summer that RAF Fairford could be a “legitimate target” months after then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave permission for the U.S. to use its bases for “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran.
The Iranian Embassy in Britain denied any involvement Monday.
In an appearance on Fox News later Monday, Rubio said, “What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the U.K. over the weekend is a very serious situation.”
“There’s a lot more news that’ll come out on this in the days to come,” he added.
Taylor said that “it was simply not possible for me to go into detail about every strand that we are looking at and all of the intelligence we have got,” which he said was not unusual for such an investigation.
“It is unusual for it to be as visible as it is in this incident,” he said, adding that his team was working with international partners.
