British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, that a suspected plot to attack a U.S.-run military air base in England was "almost certainly" directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The assessment follows a security incident last month at RAF Fairford, a facility approximately 100 miles west of London that has been utilized by American aircraft during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The security response began on Sept. 27, when residents near the base were evacuated as armed police and bomb-disposal teams searched the area. Authorities later reported finding gasoline in three vans linked to suspects, though no explosives were recovered. Seven men in their 20s were arrested in connection with the investigation, but all have since been released on bail without charges.
In response to the findings, the British government summoned the Iranian ambassador on Monday and announced new sanctions against two Iranian individuals. One of the sanctioned individuals is the head of counterespionage for the Revolutionary Guard. Tehran has denied involvement in the incident, though Iranian officials previously stated they consider bases used for attacks on their territory to be legitimate military targets.
The incident affects the security operations and personnel at RAF Fairford, a base that the Trump administration stated was facing threats intended to kill American troops and destroy U.S. aircraft. The Pentagon confirmed last week that it has already redeployed its bombers from the facility back to their home bases in the United States. Residents in the village of Whelford, located about one mile from the base, were among those forced to evacuate their homes during the initial police response on Sept. 27.
The investigation follows a reported increase in hostile state activity. British officials reported that cases involving such activity increased by 50% in the six months leading up to December 2025. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that states like Iran are using proxy networks and criminal actors to conduct operations within Britain. The foreign ministers of the U.K., the U.S., and approximately two dozen other Western nations issued a joint statement on Monday condemning Iranian state-backed activity.
For the seven men currently on bail, the legal process remains ongoing as police continue to investigate the source and intent of the gasoline found in their vehicles. The U.K. government indicated it will continue to use sanctions and investigations to disrupt covert networks. The next steps in the legal proceedings, including potential court dates or formal charges, have not yet been reported.