Trump disagrees with decision to grant bail to British terror suspects
by Tom Howell Jr. · The Washington TimesPresident Trump said Monday he disagrees with Britain’s decision to grant bail to the five men arrested in connection with an alleged terror plot at a British air force base used by American forces.
The release of the men, all British nationals, raised questions about the case regarding RAF Fairford base in southern England.
“I’m surprised that they’re released. I wouldn’t have done that,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office. “I would not have released them.”
People were interested in these podcasts
“I would have said, ’Don’t let them have bail,” Mr. Trump said, while adding that British authorities worked well with U.S. officials.
The five men were arrested Sunday after police received calls about suspicious vehicles driving toward the air force base, which is used by U.S. military personnel.
Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, said the two countries worked together to capture the men.
“It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump said the U.S. might have been working with Scotland Yard on tracking the men. “We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” the president said.
Advertisement Advertisement
The suspects were taken into custody on “suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act,” according to British authorities.
British officials said Monday the men, though released, remained under investigation and face “stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others.”
The release raised questions about whether the authorities found enough evidence to support the charges, though British authorities warned against speculation.
Police in Gloucestershire said the arrests followed a call alerting them to three suspicious vehicles heading toward RAF Fairford, a military installation about a mile from Whelford and a site U.S. forces have used to launch airstrikes against Iran.
The base hosts several key U.S. military units, including the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron.
Advertisement Advertisement
The incident comes at a delicate moment in the U.S.-Iran conflict and just days after top Iranian military leaders threatened to “change the geography of the war” if Mr. Trump renews American airstrikes against Iran.
On Monday, Mr. Trump was coy about whether the men had links to Iran.
“I know the answer,” Mr. Trump said. “I can be very specific, but I’d rather not say it.”
• Susan Ferrechio contributed to this story.
Advertisement Advertisement
Contact the author
Tom Howell Jr.
Follow author updates Follow Click to follow. Manage followed authors