RAF base plot suspect called police himself - report

One of the men arrested over a suspected terror plot near an RAF base used by the US called the police in the early hours of Sunday, it is understood.

A farmer from Whelford told the press earlier this week that she dialled 999 at 1.36am on Sunday after discovering three vans blocking a road near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

But it has now emerged that one of the suspects had called the police around an hour before, a development first reported by The Times.

Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism before being released on bail yesterday.

Counter-terror police said today that a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert near the airbase, which has been used in recent months by US bombers to launch airstrikes against Iran.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a television interview that the suspected plot "clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor", but refused to provide further details.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said he was "surprised" the group had been freed.

The British nationals were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism on Sunday after three vans were found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which has been used by the US military to carry out strikes against Iran.

Residents evacuated from about 85 households were able to return home yesterday, but a cordon remained in place around the vehicles as counter terrorism officers continued to examine the scene.

Speaking to Fox News, Mr Rubio said, "I have to be careful. There's some things I cannot say on the air for a lot of different reasons.

"Suffice it to say that what happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation.

"It's one that clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor. I won't get into great detail about that yet.

"I do want to thank the authorities in the United Kingdom who have been very cooperative and on top of it," he added.

Earlier, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, acknowledged speculation on whether Iran was behind the incident and said the force was considering "every possible angle".

In a statement outside New Scotland Yard yesterday, Mr Taylor said he knew there was "significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident".

"At Counter Terrorism Policing, we are working within this context every single day and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.

"We have, as you would expect, ensured that our protective security advice and posture remain commensurate with the threat," he added.

"But be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state," he said.

The five suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, central London, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.

Mr Taylor said the men were released on bail under "stringent conditions" yesterday but "absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry".

Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting yesterday.

After the meeting, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the decisions around bail were operational matters for the police and prosecutors, and the investigation remained ongoing.

Speaking in the White House earlier, Mr Trump said, "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."