UK police arrest seventh suspect in London over RAF Fairford terror plot
Counter-terrorism officers detained a 22-year-old British man in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, bringing total arrests in the airbase investigation to seven.
Arrest in Westminster
British counter-terrorism officers arrested a 22-year-old British man in central London on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The arrest took place in the London borough of Westminster, where specialist police units also conducted searches of a residential property located within the same district. Authorities detained the suspect on suspicion of the preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed that the 22-year-old man remains in police custody following his apprehension. The operation forms the latest step in a wider counter-terrorism investigation focused on suspicious activity and security threats identified in the vicinity of the RAF Fairford military installation in western England.
Previous arrests and thwarted car bomb plot
The detention in London represents the seventh arrest made since the investigation commenced in late September 2026. Emergency services and counter-terrorism units launched a large-scale security operation on 27 September 2026 near a village in the English county of Gloucestershire, adjacent to the airbase. Authorities stated that the deployment thwarted a planned car bomb attack targeting the area around the military airfield. Following the initial incident, police arrested five British men, all in their twenties, and subsequently released each of them on police bail. On 1 October 2026, officers carried out a sixth arrest in Westminster, detaining a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national who was also later released on bail pending further inquiries.
- Police thwart a planned car bomb attack near RAF Fairford and arrest five British men in their 20s
- Officers arrest a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national in Westminster
- Counter-terrorism police arrest a 22-year-old British man in Westminster and search a local property
Strategic role and military movements
RAF Fairford is an operational airfield located in Gloucestershire that has been utilised by the United States Air Force to conduct strikes against Iranian targets. The investigation attracted international attention after US President Donald Trump stated that security threats linked to Iran prompted the withdrawal of American B-1 bombers stationed at the British facility. The military aircraft had been operating from the English base to execute defensive strikes prior to their removal. In response to the allegations and statements from Washington, the Iranian government formally denied any involvement or connection to the suspected plot and events surrounding the Gloucestershire installation.
Ongoing counter-terrorism operations
Senior counter-terrorism officials indicated that specialized investigative teams continue to examine evidence gathered across London and Gloucestershire. Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Vicki Evans addressed the status of the operation on Tuesday following the latest Westminster arrest.
This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford.
Officers continue to question the 22-year-old man in custody while the six other suspects, comprising five Britons in their twenties and the 25-year-old dual British-Iranian citizen, remain subject to bail terms. Specialist teams continue to examine items recovered during property searches in central London while pursuing further lines of enquiry.
