US claims foreign actor behind RAF Fairford terror plot

Summarised from 13 outlets · 16 reports · Updated 29 Sept, 19:42 · Archive

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a foreign actor was behind a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Five British nationals were arrested on Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism after three suspicious vans were spotted. They were released on bail on Monday whilst investigations continue. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a foreign actor was 'clearly' behind the incident, describing it as 'a very serious situation'. The Daily Mail reports that Rubio mentioned Iran by name, though he did not directly blame it. The BBC reports that Iran has denied any involvement. Both Rubio and President Trump expressed concern about the suspects being released on bail.

How it is being reported

• Trump says he's surprised after U.K. releases 5 suspects on bail following apparent terror plotPresident Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reacting to news that officials in the U.K. released five men suspected of plotting a terror attack near an air force base. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.CBS News · 29 Sept, 15:28
• Trump and Rubio question U.K. handling of possible plot against air baseRubio claims a possible terror plot against a U.K. air base used by U.S. forces "clearly involved" a foreign actor, but there are few facts to support that.CBS News · 29 Sept, 14:14
• Suspected terror plot at UK-US airbase ‘clearly involved a foreign actor’, Secretary of State Rubio claimsFive suspects, all UK nationals living in London, were released on Monday but remain under investigationThe Independent · 29 Sept, 12:45
• RAF Fairford incident involves 'foreign actor', says RubioIn a television interview the US Secretary of State mentioned Iran, which has denied any involvementBBC News · 29 Sept, 12:35
• Rubio confirms 'foreign actor' involved in UK terror plotSecretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed a "foreign actor" was behind the thwarted terror plot near RAF Fairford, warning of repercussions tied to Iran.Fox News · 29 Sept, 12:17
• US’s Marco Rubio says UK airbase incident involved ‘foreign actor’Washington's top diplomat calls the suspected plot 'a very serious situation' after five were arrested over the weekend.Al Jazeera · 29 Sept, 10:12
• UK: US government questions bail for Fairford base suspectsThe US government sees "the hand of a foreign actor" in the security scare at RAF Fairford, a hub for US heavy bombers in Europe. Donald Trump criticized the suspects being released on bail amid ongoing investigations.DW News · 29 Sept, 09:17
• RAF Fairford: Labour’s deputy leader says ‘I trust our police’ after Trump questions decision to bail suspects – latest updatesLucy Powell’s comments come after US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also expressed concerns and says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind plot Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford plot We are restarting our live coverage of the major incident at RAF Fairford after five British nationals who were arrested over the suspected bomb plot were released on bail yesterday. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, suggested the suspected plot involved the hand of a foreign actor, and both him and the US president, Donald Trump, have expressed concern and surprise at the…Guardian World · 29 Sept, 09:14
• Marco Rubio Hints That Iran May Have Been Behind RAF Fairford 'Terror Plot'US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Marco Rubio has hinted that Iran was behind a suspected terror plot at an RAF base used by the American military. The US Secretary of State said that “a foreign actor” was behind the incident, which saw five men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism on Sunday after three suspicious vans were spotted near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The men, who were all British citizens from London, were released on bail on Monday, and investigations are continuing. Security at the base, which has been used by the Americans to bomb Iran, has been…HuffPost UK · 29 Sept, 08:18
• RAF Fairford: Marco Rubio says public ‘disturbed’ after five terror suspects released on bailUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he understood why people were “disturbed” after five suspects arrested over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford were released on bail on Monday (28 September).The Independent · 29 Sept, 08:11
• RAF Fairford suspected terror plot involved a foreign actor, says Marco RubioIn a TV interview, the top diplomat mentioned Iran by name, pointing out it had threatened to attack US interests, but did not directly blame it for the weekend incident in Gloucestershire.Daily Mail · 29 Sept, 08:03
• Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford bomb plotThe US secretary of state offered no evidence for his claims, and also said many people were ‘disturbed’ that the five suspects had been released on bail US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said unequivocally that a foreign actor was involved in the suspected UK bomb plot at RAF Fairford, hours after the five suspects arrested close to the airbase were released on bail. “What could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News on Monday evening, adding that it “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.” Continue…The Guardian · 29 Sept, 04:29
• Rubio says UK air base incident involved ‘foreign actor’RAF Fairford was being used by US Air Force for strikes on IranFinancial Times · 29 Sept, 04:08
• RAF Fairford suspected terror plot involved ‘a foreign actor’, says Marco RubioThe top diplomat described the incident close to the military site in Gloucestershire as a ‘very serious situation’.Evening Standard · 29 Sept, 04:07
• US says 'foreign actor' behind RAF Fairford terror plot - 'very serious threat'Marco Rubio has placed the blame for the incident on an unnamed 'foreign actor' as counter-terror police say they are keeping an open mind on links to Iran.Daily Express · 29 Sept, 03:17
• US blames 'foreign actor' for RAF Fairford terror incident and warns of 'more news coming'Marco Rubio has blamed a "foreign actor" for the RAF Fairford incident and warned there is "a lot more news" that will follow after the alleged terror plotThe Mirror · 29 Sept, 03:08

In this story: Marco Rubio · RAF Fairford · Gloucestershire · Iran · Donald Trump · United States

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