UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday there are “strong indications” that Iran had a hand in an attack on an air base used by American bombers, as scrutiny grows over the decision to release the five suspects on bail.
“There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at R.A.F. Fairford,” Burnham told the BBC, referring to the Sunday incident.
The prime minister described the probe as “ongoing” and “complex,” and said British authorities are coordinating with their American counterparts.
“It remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation, and of course we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America,” he said.
Five men were arrested Sunday near R.A.F. Fairford on suspicion of explosives violations and terrorism. The nearby village of Whelford was evacuated after three vans near the base raised suspicions.
The men were found near the vans wearing masks and hoods. Two emergency calls were placed during the incident, one from a farmer and one from a member of the group itself. All five suspects are British nationals in their 20s.
According to the BBC, all five men were released on bail following their arrests.
The American military uses R.A.F. Fairford as a staging area during the ongoing war with Iran. The U.S. military said it is working “closely” with British authorities to “monitor this situation, minimize impacts and ensure the safety of US personnel, their families, and the local community.”
The bail decision has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, who said Monday he was caught off guard by the move.
“I will tell you, I would have said, ‘don’t let them have bail’. I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that,” Trump said.
Burnham pushed back, defending the decision and insisting the suspects are under the “strictest possible bail conditions.”
The prime minister argued that the public may be misreading what the release actually means for the five men.
“I think people need to understand that when it says released – that isn’t as people might think. It’s obviously with the strictest possible bail conditions,” he said.
Burnham’s comments pointing toward Iran come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said following the Sunday incident that foreign actors had to be involved.
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Rubio said the episode underscores the broader threat facing the United States and its interests around the world.
“I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is we are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally,” Rubio said.
With the investigation still underway, the incident at R.A.F. Fairford has put a spotlight on the security of a base that plays a key role for the American military during the war with Iran, and on the handling of the five men arrested there.
For now, British police continue their work alongside U.S. officials, while the prime minister maintains that the suspects’ release on bail does not mean what many might assume.
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