Police arrest seventh man over suspected RAF Fairford terror plot

Counter-terrorism police have arrested a 22-year-old British national in Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. The BBC, The Guardian, and France 24 reported that the arrest on Tuesday is connected to a suspected plot near the RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire. Sky News reported that the arrest was made in relation to an incident that took place close to the base on 27 September. [1][2][5][6]

According to the BBC, the suspect is the seventh person arrested in the investigation. Senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, stated that it remains a live investigation. The BBC reported that six other men previously arrested in connection with the case have been released on bail. The BBC and The Guardian noted that a major incident was declared last month after police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base, prompting the evacuation of dozens of homes. [1][2]

RAF Fairford is located in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, and serves as the only European airfield used by the United States Air Force for heavy bombers. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the United States completed the withdrawal of all its B-1 bombers from the base on Sunday following the initial security incident and arrests. [1][10][13][14]

The mass departure involved at least 10 B-1 bombers that had been operating out of Fairford to strike targets in the Iran conflict, according to the BBC and The Guardian. Donald Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance said that security threats prompted the sudden withdrawal of the military aircraft back to the United States, according to reports by the BBC and The Guardian. [3][4][7]