Counter-terrorism police have made a seventh arrest in connection with the suspected plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, as it emerged that US bombers have now been redeployed away from the base.
A 22-year-old British national was arrested in Westminster, central London, on Tuesday 6 October on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed. A property in the Westminster area was also searched.
Seven arrests, no charges
It is the seventh arrest in the investigation stemming from the incident in Whelford, near RAF Fairford, in the early hours of Sunday 27 September. The six men previously arrested — five British nationals aged 23 to 25 detained at the scene on 27 September, and a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national arrested in Westminster on 1 October — have all been released on police bail. No one has yet been charged.
Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans said: “This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding events at RAF Fairford.”
US bombers redeployed
In a separate but connected development, the United States Air Force has redeployed its B-52 and B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford back to their home bases in the US. Aviation observers noted the aircraft departing the Gloucestershire base on Sunday 4 October. US President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he did not want to tempt “the enemy” by keeping the bombers at the base, adding: “We had a threat, and if we’re going to be threatened, we would just move them.”
A Pentagon spokesperson said it would be “inappropriate to discuss matters of intelligence” but confirmed the US remains at the “highest state of readiness”.
Iran link suggested
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK sees “strong indications” that Iran played a role in the incident, though he has not elaborated on the nature of the suspected plot. The BBC reports that police found a quantity of an accelerant — petrol — in three vans linked to the five initial suspects, but no explosive devices.
RAF Fairford, located near Cirencester, has been used by the US military for air operations during the ongoing Iran conflict. The base has been a focal point of security concern since the September incident.
This follows our earlier report: Major incident declared near RAF Fairford as police cordon off airbase and arrest several men.
Sources: BBC News, CBS News, Radio Royal, Counter Terrorism Policing, The Guardian (6–7 October 2026).
