US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a foreign actor was “clearly involved” in the suspected bomb plot targeting RAF Fairford.
He made the statement on Monday night, after counter-terror police released five British nationals, aged 23 to 25, who had been arrested on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosive offenses.
Police said on Monday that all five men had been released on bail after “extensive interviews and inquiries” following the discovery of three vans 400m from the Gloucestershire air base.
They conducted adequate interviews and inquiries in only 24 hours?
Secretary Rubio told Fox News:
“What could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation.
“It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.”
He added: “I do want to thank the authorities in the United Kingdom who have been very cooperative and on top of it.
“I know a lot of people are disturbed by the news that some of these people have been released on bail, as some of the people are being investigated, and obviously we’re engaging with them on all of that.”
🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Sec. Marco Rubio announces a “FOREIGN ACTOR” was involved in the planned terrorist attack on RAF Fairford base UK — 5 of the suspects are now OUT ON BAIL
“A LOT more news will come out on this.”
“I have to be careful, there are some things I cannot… pic.twitter.com/K5x3FjItI1
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 29, 2026
Further Details
The president had praised Britain’s response, but didn’t agree with releasing them. “I would have said, don’t let them have bail,” he told reporters yesterday afternoon, adding: “I wouldn’t have done that.”
“We know everything about them,” the president said of the five British nationals in their 20s. As for connections to Iran, he said: “I’d rather not say.”
A farmer saw the hooded, masked men in three vehicles and called the police. They were caught a few hundred yards from the naval base used by the US to bomb Iran.
Some residents complained that the police’s handling of the incident had been a “farce” and questioned how long they took to respond.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Laurence Taylor, the assistant commissioner for special operations at the Metropolitan Police, said the force’s lines of inquiry included that “this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.”
The police also said they were “keeping an open mind in this investigation”
“To be very clear, this does not mean the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry. At counter-terrorism policing, we are working within this context every day. And we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.”