FAIRFORD, England (Diya TV) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that a “foreign actor” was involved in the incident that led British police to arrest five men near RAF Fairford, an airbase used by U.S. forces. Rubio offered no evidence publicly and did not identify a country. British investigators say a foreign state connection remains one of several possibilities they are examining.
“What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the U.K. over the weekend is a very serious situation,” Rubio told Fox News. He said it “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor” but declined to give details.
Police arrested the five men early Sunday after receiving a report of three suspicious vehicles near the base in Gloucestershire. Officers initially detained them on suspicion of explosives offenses and later arrested them on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. The men are British nationals from London in their 20s. Police released them on bail Monday under restrictions on their movement and contact with others. They remain under investigation.
Counter Terrorism Policing chief Laurence Taylor said investigators are considering whether the men acted for a foreign state, knowingly or otherwise. Police have not announced a motive or established a state connection. A source familiar with the investigation told Reuters that the vans did not contain viable explosives.
President Donald Trump said Monday that the incident “might be” linked to Iran and criticized the decision to release the suspects on bail. Iran has denied involvement. Neither Trump nor Rubio publicly presented evidence linking Iran to the case.
Authorities evacuated about 85 nearby households while bomb-disposal specialists examined the vehicles. Police allowed residents to return Monday evening, though a cordon remained around the vehicles.
British authorities have not publicly confirmed an Iranian role. Instead, police said they were examining whether the suspects acted for a foreign state.
That distinction remains important as the investigation continues. Officials have not announced charges that establish a foreign government’s involvement.
Western governments have warned about threats from Iran, Russia and other countries. In recent years, officials have accused foreign actors of using proxies and other networks to conduct operations abroad.
Britain has also taken steps against alleged Iranian-linked activity. The country has imposed sanctions on people and organizations that it says support hostile activity.
The incident comes amid broader concerns about terrorism and foreign interference in Britain. The country raised its terrorism threat level to the second-highest category in April. Officials said an attack was considered highly likely at that time.
The RAF Fairford investigation now adds another security concern. However, authorities have not established the full motive behind the arrests.
For now, British police continue to examine the evidence. U.S. officials are also monitoring the case because of the base’s connection to American military operations.
Rubio said additional information could emerge in the coming days. Until investigators release more details, questions remain about who organized the suspected plot, what the suspects intended to do, and whether a foreign government played a role.
