British police said on Monday they had put five men on bail after arrests made on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences near a British airbase used by the United States. Officers said the men have been released from custody while the investigation continues.
Arrests Near RAF Fairford
The arrests were carried out following an incident at the RAF Fairford base, police said. The airfield is used by the US, according to the statement issued by counter-terrorism policing.
Authorities did not provide details of what prompted the arrests, but said the suspects were released on bail after being detained in connection with the allegations.
Counter-Terrorism Investigation Under Way
Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said investigators were examining a wide range of possibilities. He said officers were reviewing the matter from every angle following the incident at RAF Fairford.
Police said the men remain subject to ongoing investigation. They did not set out when further steps would be taken or whether any additional arrests were expected.
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Foreign-State Proxy Possibility
Taylor also referred to the possibility that the incident could have involved people acting on another state’s behalf. He said investigators were considering whether the offences could have been carried out by proxies, or by individuals who may have been working for a foreign state either knowingly or without realising the role they were playing.
Police said that focus formed part of their continuing inquiries as they worked to understand the circumstances of the arrests and what connection, if any, the suspects may have had to the suspected offences.
Bail Status While Enquiries Continue
Bail allows a person to be released from custody while police investigations and any related legal processes go ahead. In this case, police said five men released on bail are still under investigation, meaning enquiries are continuing into the allegations of terrorism-related and explosives offences.
Authorities did not say whether the five men were facing charges at the time of the announcement, but they emphasised that the matter was not closed.

28 September 2026
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