The British nationals were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism after three vans were found near the airbase, which has been used by the US military to carry out strikes against Iran.
asserted
which → arrest → Iran
Mr Taylor added that the males “absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry”.
asserted
we → add → inquiry
It is understood that the material found at the scene of the arrests was not viable explosives.
asserted
material → understand → arrests
Iran has denied any involvement in what happened near the base.
asserted
what → deny → base
Here is the timeline for how events have unfolded at RAF Fairford.
asserted
events → unfold → Fairford
How events unfolded
asserted
events → unfold → ?
July 23 – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says UK airbases being used by the US are ‘legitimate targets’.
asserted
airbases → say → US
September 1-25 — Locals living in the villages surrounding RAF Fairford reportedly notice increased security around the military site.
uncertain
Locals → live → site
Heavy machinery and concrete bollards are said to be placed at gated entrances to the airbase.
asserted
machinery → say → airbase
Plain-clothed police were spotted in the area.
asserted
police → spot → area
Saturday, September 26 – A person walking their dog early on Saturday evening in the vicinity of the airbase is stopped by armed police and told to return home, they later tell the BBC.
asserted
they → walk → BBC
Sunday, September 27, 12.45am – Gloucestershire Police receive first report of three suspicious white vans travelling towards RAF Fairford.
asserted
Police → receive → Fairford
Read More
September 27, 1am – a farmer from Whelford, a village near RAF Fairford, is driving home from a party along quiet rural roads when she comes across three vans blocking the path to her farm.
asserted
she → read → farm
Turning around, she later reports seeing “a large group of hooded and masked men” at a nearby junction before they quickly disperse.
asserted
they → turn → junction
September 27, 1.36am – After a failed attempt to contact the Ministry of Defence police, the anonymous farmer phones 999 to alert Gloucestershire Police.
asserted
farmer → fail → Police
She is said to post in the local residents’ WhatsApp group that "something very odd is going on in the village”.
asserted
something → say → village
September 27, approximately 1.46am – Armed officers, backed up by a police helicopter, surround the vans, arresting five men only 300m from the base’s perimeter.
asserted
officers → back → perimeter
They are detained under the Explosives Act.
asserted
They → detain → Act
September 27, AM– Gloucestershire Police declares a major incident.
asserted
Police → declare → incident
A 400m security cordon is established around the vans and Army bomb disposal units are deployed.
asserted
units → establish → vans
September 27, AM – More than 80 households in Whelford are evacuated.
asserted
households → evacuate → Whelford
September 27, 2.45pm – Counter-terrorism policing announces they are leading the investigation.
asserted
they → announce → investigation
The five men are also arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
asserted
men → arrest → act
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Iran’s London embassy says it “categorically rejects” what it calls “malicious speculation” about the country’s involvement in Sunday’s events in the Cotswolds.
asserted
it → say → Cotswolds
Police announce that the five men arrested over the RAF Fairford incident will be released on bail.
asserted
men → announce → bail
Police say they are keeping an open mind about foreign interference, saying one possibility could be proxies “either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state”.
uncertain
possibility → say → state
September 28, 7pm – An emergency Cobra meeting into the security incident at RAF Fairford wraps-up.
asserted
meeting → wrap → Fairford
September 28, 7.30pm – Evacuated residents in Whelford are permitted to return to their homes.
asserted
residents → evacuate → homes
September 28, 8pm – Trump says he is “surprised” five suspects were released on bail.
asserted
suspects → say → bail
In comments in the Oval Office, he praises UK police but adds: “I will tell you, I would have said ‘Don’t let them have bail’.”
asserted
them → praise → bail
Tuesday, September 29, 4am (BST) – US secretary of state Marco Rubio says the “hand of a foreign actor” appeared to have been at play on Sunday but claims he is limited in what more he can say.
uncertain
he → say → more
September 29, 7am – Police cordon remains in place around three vehicles at RAF Fairford.
asserted
cordon → remain → Fairford
The Aporia
