Two men charged over RAF Fairford 'plot to aid Iran'

Updated / Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 10:52

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Two British nationals have been charged over a plot to assist Iran's intelligence service as part of the investigation into the suspected terror incident near a RAF base in the UK.

RAF Fairford had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran, but they were withdrawn on security grounds shortly after five British men were arrested outside the base in southwest England in the early hours of 27 September.

A 24-year-old British national was charged with engaging in conduct that was likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service between 31 August and 28 September, with police saying the country is believed to be Iran.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that the activity at RAF Fairford was likely to have been coordinated in Iran, which Iran's ambassador to Britain has denied.

A 24-year-old dual British-Iranian national who was first arrested outside RAF Fairford on 27 September, was charged with one offence of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK on 22 August.

The pair will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said in a statement: "We have seen a range of incidents in recent months that we believe have been directed by the Iranian state and, as the Director General of MI5 said just the other week, we are working together to intervene, identify and respond to that threat."

Police said that six other people, four of whom are British nationals who were arrested outside RAF Fairford last month, remain on police bail.