Seventh man bailed in connection with alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford

The seventh man arrested by police investigating a suspected terror plot close to RAF Fairford has been released on bail.

The 22-year-old British national, who was not named, was held on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts in Westminster, central London, on Tuesday, counter terror police (CTP) said.

He has been released under "strict bail conditions," CTP said on Thursday.

Six other suspects have already been arrested and released on bail.

Three large white vans - linked to the initial five suspects - were stopped near the airbase in Gloucestershire in the early hours of 27 September.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident which forced scores of local people to leave their homes near the base as armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts swarmed the rural area.

No explosive materials were found in the vans, but a quantity of an accelerant - petrol - was seized, police said, and four days later a sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested.

RAF Fairford was used by US bombers to strike Iran, but the planes were removed over the weekend after the incident, although it is not clear why.

US defence chiefs said on Sunday that the aircraft had been "redeployed to their home stations in the United States", but stressed the US Air Force retained the ability to strike "anywhere, any time".

Tehran has been linked to the incident, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying there was a "strong indication" Iran played a role.

The bombers were redeployed after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend, the New York Times said, quoting US officials.

On Monday, Downing Street declined to comment on the withdrawal of the bombers but insisted RAF Fairford was safe.

(c) Sky News 2026: Seventh man bailed in connection with alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford