Iran has hit back at Andy Burnham's claims that there are 'strong indications' the country was involved in the suspected terror plot near an RAF base used by the US.
uncertain
country → hit → US
Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism after the incident close to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday, then bailed on Monday.
The base has been used in recent months by US bombers to launch air strikes against Iran – and potential involvement by Tehran is a main line of inquiry for investigators, given the country has used proxies in the past to carry out acts in Britain.
The Prime Minister claimed yesterday that there are 'strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened' although he declined to go into further detail.
But Iran has now responded to this, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Mr Burnham was 'barking up the wrong tree' and criticising the bail of the suspects.
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Burnham → arrest → suspects
He wrote on X last night: 'PM Burnham says the UK Government 'can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part' in the RAF Fairford incident.
'
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Iran → write → incident
I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.
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releasing → confirm → it
You're barking up the wrong tree.'
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You → bark → tree
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned in July that any base used in strikes against its country would be a legitimate target.
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base → warn → country
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, pictured at the UN Headquarters in New York last week
The five British men are arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire early on Sunday
The moment a police robot blasts the doors off one of the vans that was found near the base
A fireball bursts from the rear of one of the vans before a huge plume of smoke rises into the air
That came after the Iranian ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, said the decision to allow American bombers to launch from RAF Fairford had become an 'important matter for our self-defence'.
But
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bombers → picture → defence
Iran's London embassy has fiercely denied any involvement in Sunday's incident.
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embassy → deny → incident
Mr Burnham told GB News yesterday: 'There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend.
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what → tell → weekend
He added: 'Obviously, I've been dealing with this as I've been here in Liverpool [for the Labour Party Conference].
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I → add → Conference
We have held a Cobra meeting here.
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We → hold → meeting
We are completely on top of things, but will say more when we can.'
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we → say → more
Asked about the bail, Mr Burnham told the BBC: 'I think people need to understand that when it says released - that isn't as people might think.
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people → ask → BBC
The authorities have this under the strongest grip and closest control, and I can assure you of that.'
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I → have → that
On Sunday, the farmer who alerted the authorities said one of the three vans in the incident had lettering on the side which appeared to be fake.
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which → alert → side
It carried branding for 'Fuel 2You' – unrelated to a real fuel delivery company, Beaconsfield-based 'Fuel2U'.
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It → carry → company
It has also been noted that the phone number beneath the company name – 0742 418 2599 – was spaced in a format predominantly used in Iran.
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number → note → Iran
Others pointed out how it was odd to use a red logo for a business supplying fuel, when the colour of petrol pumps in the UK is green.
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colour → point → UK
One of the three vans near RAF Fairford had 'Fuel 2You' printed on its exterior in red text
The 'Fuel 2You' branding raised suspicions the men may have been transporting fuel
The three white vans are investigated by a robot after the alleged plot near RAF Fairford
A van belonging to the real company 'Fuel 2U' – in no way linked to the RAF Fairford incident
It comes as a video showed the moment a police robot blasted the doors off one of the vans near the base.
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robot → print → base
The clip, exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail, was captured on a resident's security camera.
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clip → obtain → camera
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that one of the five men arrested over the plot called police before they were detained.
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they → reveal → police
The suspect phoned around an hour before a farmer said she called 999 at 1.36am on Sunday after discovering three vans blocking a road near the base.
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vans → phone → base
The five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, and from London, were subsequently arrested.
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nationals → arrest → London
It has also emerged that petrol, but no explosives, was found in the vans which sparked the security alert in the village of Whelford.
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which → emerge → Whelford
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the suspected plot 'clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor', but refused to provide further details.
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plot → say → details
Donald Trump also said the alleged plot 'might be' linked to Iran.
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plot → say → Iran
Head of UK counter-terrorism policing, assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the vehicles have been examined, adding: 'We can confirm that no improvised explosive devices have been found.
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devices → say → policing
We have found a quantity of an accelerant, petrol.
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We → find → accelerant
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch yesterday urged Andy Burnham and his Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to show 'a bit more seriousness' over national security.
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Badenoch → urge → security
She said: 'These are extremely concerning developments.
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These → say → ?
I have been very vocal about how I believe that we need to focus more on national security.'
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we → believe → security
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