UK blames Iran's IRGC for RAF Fairford security incident

Summarised from 7 outlets · 11 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 17:14 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was 'almost certainly' behind a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the assessment public on Monday when addressing MPs for the first time since the incident, saying the UK's assessment was that the event was 'highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard'.

The incident occurred on 27 September when five men from London drove to the village of Whelford, adjacent to RAF Fairford, in three white vans shortly after midnight. Seven people have been arrested as part of the investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing; all have been released on bail. No bombs or explosives were found at the scene.

A week after the incident, the United States withdrew twelve B-1 bombers from the airbase. Reports suggested the US was concerned about a possible drone attack, following the base's use in strikes against Iran during the Middle East conflict in spring and summer. The precise nature of what occurred at RAF Fairford remains unclear, with some experts speculating it may have been a 'feint' designed to demonstrate Iran's theoretical capability to attack the site.

Burnham's statement represented a significant hardening of the UK's public position. In the days immediately following the incident, he had said only that there were 'strong indications' Iran had played a part. The Guardian reported that western officials had been weighing whether to warn publicly that Iran now has US military targets in Europe in mind.

The government announced consequences for Iran's alleged actions. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Office to reiterate that 'Britain will not tolerate threats on our soil'. Miliband also announced the designation of two Iranian nationals: Ruhollah Bazghandi, described as head of counterespionage operations within the IRGC, and Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki, identified as a facilitator of the Zindashti criminal network. Both are subject to immediate asset freezes, travel bans and director disqualification.

Burnham told MPs the UK would bring further sanctions against Tehran and the IRGC, though details were to follow from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. He stated: 'We will crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams.'

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham: RAF Fairford incident ‘almost certainly’ directed by IranThe Prime Minister said it was highly likely Iran was behind the plot targeting the airbase used by US bombers.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 17:54
• Andy Burnham: RAF Fairford incident ‘almost certainly’ directed by IranThe Prime Minister said it was highly likely Iran was behind the plot targeting the airbase used by US bombers.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 17:28
• Andy Burnham confirms Iran 'almost certainly' behind foiled RAF Fairford 'terror plot'The Prime Minister indicated Iran could be hit with further sanctions over its role in the RAF Fairford incidentEvening Standard · 12 Oct, 17:00
• Burnham: Iran’s IRGC ‘highly likely’ to be behind RAF Fairford terror plotThe U.K. prime minister said Britain will "crack down on Iran's use of criminal networks."Politico Europe · 12 Oct, 16:57
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ‘almost certainly’ behind RAF Fairford threats, says BurnhamUK to bring further sanctions against Tehran and IRGC after assessment Iran was likely to have coordinated incident Andy Burnham said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were “almost certainly” behind threats to RAF Fairford, the firmest attribution of responsibility made so far by the UK after an incident late last month. The prime minister told MPs the UK would bring further sanctions against Tehran and the IRGC as a result, with more information to follow in an update from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Continue reading...The Guardian · 12 Oct, 16:52
• UK imposes new sanctions on Iran over RAF Fairford incidentAndy Burnham says events at Gloucestershire base used by US military were ‘almost certainly directed’ by Islamic Revolutionary GuardsFinancial Times · 12 Oct, 16:43
• UK summons Iranian ambassador to show ‘Britain will not tolerate threats’Andy Burnham has said there are ‘strong indications’ Iran played a part in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.Evening Standard · 12 Oct, 16:34
• Iran 'highly likely' to have been behind RAF Fairford incident says Burnham as he vows greater sanctions for Islamist regimeThe Prime Minister said the UK 'will not tolerate these threats on our soil' as he faced MPs for the first time since a wave of arrests connected to the military site in Gloucestershire.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 16:14
• Iran’s IRGC ‘almost certainly’ directed RAF Fairford incident, Burnham saysTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Andy Burnham has said Iran ’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was ‘almost certainly’ behind the incident at RAF Fairford last month. In a…Metro · 12 Oct, 16:06
• RAF Fairford incident ‘almost certainly’ directed by Iran’s security force, Burnham saysAndy Burnham gave an update to MPs in the CommonsIndependent World · 12 Oct, 15:58
• After RAF Fairford incident, how big a threat to the UK is Iran?Although there is scepticism about Tehran’s capabilities, it has become clear it wants Britain to feel it poses a risk Britain may have been only peripherally involved in the bombing of Iran that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu started, but in the past fortnight it has become clear that Tehran wants to pose a threat inside the UK in response. In the aftermath of the confused incident near RAF Fairford, western officials are weighing up whether to warn publicly that Iran now has US military targets in Europe on its mind, such as the air force base in Gloucestershire. Continue reading...The Guardian · 11 Oct, 10:00

In this story: Andy Burnham · Iran · Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps · RAF Fairford · Ed Miliband · Shabana Mahmood · United States

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