Andy Burnham has said there are 'strong indications' that Iran played a role in events near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where five men were arrested as part of a terror investigation. The prime minister defended releasing suspects on bail and expressed confidence in the security services.
Key facts
- Andy Burnham said there are 'strong indications' Iran was involved in the RAF Fairford incident.
- Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as part of a terror investigation.
- Burnham said he could not give further details amid an ongoing police investigation.
- The prime minister defended the decision to release suspects on bail.
- The prime minister expressed 'complete confidence' in the security services.
There are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in events in which five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as part of a terror investigation, Andy Burnham has said.
Burnham made the comments to the media at the end of the Labour party conference in Liverpool, according to the Guardian. He said Iran was believed to be involved but added that he could not provide any further details while a police investigation was ongoing.
The remarks link the incident near the Gloucestershire air base to a wider terror investigation, with five men having been arrested in connection with events there.
Separately, the prime minister defended the decision to release suspects on bail, the Guardian reported. The prime minister also expressed “complete confidence” in the security services.
It is not yet publicly known what role Iran is alleged to have played, and few further details have been released while the police investigation continues.
Why it matters
Suggestions that a foreign state may have been involved in an incident at a UK military base raise significant national security questions. How authorities handle the investigation, including bail decisions for suspects, is likely to draw scrutiny from the public and politicians alike.
Frequently asked questions
What did Andy Burnham say about Iran's role?
Burnham said there are 'strong indications' that Iran played a role in the events near RAF Fairford, but he could not give more details because of the ongoing police investigation.
How many people were arrested?
According to the Guardian, five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as part of a terror investigation.
What did the prime minister say about the suspects?
The prime minister defended the decision to release suspects on bail and expressed 'complete confidence' in the security services.