A suspected terror plot against an RAF base used by American forces “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has claimed, but refused to provide further details.
asserted
Rubio → suspect → details
Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
asserted
Tehran → deny → involvement
Mr Rubio described events that unfolded near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as a “very serious situation” and thanked the British authorities for their response, saying they had been “very cooperative and very helpful”.
asserted
they → describe → response
He also noted “a lot of people are disturbed” following the release of five suspects on bail, who had been arrested in connection with the alleged plot.
asserted
who → note → plot
The British nationals were detained on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism on Sunday after three vans were found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which has been used by the US military to carry out strikes against Iran.
asserted
which → detain → Iran
Residents evacuated from about 85 households were able to return home on Monday, but a cordon remained in place around the vehicles as counter terrorism officers continue to examine the scene.
asserted
officers → evacuate → scene
It is understood that the material found was not viable explosives, but police have said the investigation is continuing.
asserted
investigation → understand → ?
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Rubio said: “I have to be careful.
asserted
I → speak → News
There’s some things I cannot say on the air for a lot of different reasons.
asserted
I → ’ → reasons
“Suffice it to say that what happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation.
uncertain
what → suffice → weekend
“It’s one that clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor.
asserted
that → ’ → actor
I won’t get into great detail about that yet.
asserted
I → get → that
Read More
“I do want to thank the authorities in the United Kingdom who have been very cooperative and on top of it.”
asserted
who → read → it
He added: “I know a lot of people are disturbed by the news that some of these people have been released on bail, as some of the people are being investigated, and obviously we’re engaging with them on all of that.
asserted
we → add → that
“Beyond that, I would argue that they’ve been very cooperative and very helpful on something that’s a very serious incident.”
asserted
that → argue → something
Mr Rubio went on: “I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is we are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally.
asserted
who → go → interests
“We’re going to always take that very seriously.
asserted
We → go → that
There’ll be repercussions for that if it ever were to happen or even attempted.
asserted
it → happen → that
“But what happened this weekend could have been and was, I think, a very serious threat.
uncertain
I → happen → ?
I want to thank the UK for their cooperation and their help on it.
asserted
I → want → it
“There’s a lot more news that’ll come out on this in the days to come, but there’s only so much I can say right now at this point about it, other than this was a very serious thing and it was responded to appropriately.”
asserted
it → ’ → it
Earlier, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, acknowledged speculation on whether Iran was behind the incident and said the force was considering “every possible angle”.
asserted
force → acknowledge → angle
In a statement outside New Scotland Yard on Monday, Mr Taylor said he knew there was “significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident”.
asserted
context → say → incident
He said: “At Counter Terrorism Policing, we are working within this context every single day and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.
“We have, as you would expect, ensured that our protective security advice and posture remain commensurate to the threat.
“
asserted
advice → say → threat
But be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.”
uncertain
this → assure → state
Iran, and other hostile states including Russia, have been known to use criminal proxies to carry out crimes on their behalf on UK soil.
asserted
Iran → include → soil
The country’s London embassy earlier said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” of Iranian involvement.
asserted
it → say → involvement
Mr Taylor said the men were released on bail under “stringent conditions” on Monday but “absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry”.
asserted
we → say → inquiry
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting on Monday.
asserted
Burnham → chair → Monday
After the meeting, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the decisions around bail were operational matters for the police and prosecutors, and the investigation remained ongoing.
asserted
investigation → say → police
Speaking in the White House on Monday, Mr Trump said: “I will tell you, I would have said ‘Don’t let them have bail’.
asserted
them → speak → bail
I’m surprised that they released them.
asserted
they → ’m → them
I wouldn’t have done that.”
asserted
I → do → that
The Aporia
