The Zioneer reports that a farmer's midnight discovery near RAF Fairford led to the foiling of a major bomb plot. Five British men of Mediterranean origin were arrested, and around 85 homes were evacuated after vans containing explosives were found near the base, which hosts US heavy bombers. Investigators say the plot bears a strong Iranian fingerprint, aligning with heightened threats to Western military assets.
A farmer's midnight discovery near RAF Fairford early Monday morning foiled a major terror plot and triggered the evacuation of some 85 homes, The Zioneer has learned. Returning home around 02:45 Jerusalem time (00:45 UK), the farmer noticed three large white vans and several masked men several hundred meters from the base perimeter. As she approached, some of the men fled. Police arrived and arrested five British men of Mediterranean origin, aged 23–25, from the London area. The vans were found to contain improvised explosive devices, and army bomb-disposal teams were called in. Counterterrorism investigators described the plot's Iranian 'fingerprint' as strong, noting the base hosts US Air Force heavy bombers used for operations against Iran.
The development follows a chain of reports on Sunday, Sep 27. At 10:34 Jerusalem time, British police confirmed the arrest of five men under the Explosives Act near RAF Fairford (version 24). Soon after, the incident was declared a major incident, with homes in the nearby village of Whelford evacuated (version 23). Later reports specified a suspected car bomb plot targeting US forces (version 22). By the same hour, police disclosed that all five suspects are British citizens (versions 26, 25). The thread shows an evolving assessment: from an explosives arrest to a confirmed terror plot with an Iranian link.
As The Zioneer reported in July, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps explicitly threatened RAF Fairford as a legitimate target amid the US-Iran confrontation. The base has been central to US strategic bomber missions against Iran. The foiled plot also underscores a security gap: British intelligence agencies had no prior knowledge of the conspiracy, according to the operational account—it was the farmer's alert that triggered the response.
The investigation remains under counterterrorism lead. The specific affiliations of the suspects and the exact nature of the Iranian direction have not yet been officially detailed.
8 developments
- StrongIranian media denies any attacks on Iran at this stage
- StrongIran's Foreign Ministry: UK complicit in 'illegal attacks', warns of war crimes responsibility
- DevelopingIranian source claims Saudi envoy contacted Foreign Ministry, denies Saudi role in attack on Iraqi militias
- DevelopingIsrael denies involvement in attacks in Iran tonight, security establishment on high alert
Source and signal
- Open-source intake