U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Thursday that American intelligence services were aware of a potential threat from Iran or its proxies targeting United States interests in the United Kingdom prior to the recent disturbance at a Royal Air Force base.
Speaking to Fox News, Mullin revealed that the U.S. had been monitoring the situation closely alongside British authorities. “They were also feeding information to us, so this was something we were paying attention to already, we just didn’t know where it was coming from,” Mullin explained. He emphasized that while the specific origin of the threat was unclear, the intelligence prompted heightened alertness, allowing officials to respond swiftly when the incident occurred.
The comments followed assertions by U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who stated on Wednesday that there are strong indications Iran played a role in the weekend events at RAF Fairford, a base hosting U.S. warplanes involved in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
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Police arrested five British nationals, aged 23 to 25, early Sunday near the RAF Fairford facility. Authorities initially suspected the men of terrorism and explosives offenses, leading to speculation that they were plotting an attack on behalf of a foreign power. However, investigators later reported finding no improvised explosive devices in the suspects’ vehicles. The men were released on bail following extensive interviews, a decision that drew frustration from Mullin.
Despite the release, Mullin insisted the individuals remain under surveillance. “It doesn’t mean these individuals are just running loose. We — as in our partners and us — have eyes on these five individuals. We not going to let them slip through the cracks,” he said.
The investigation expanded on Thursday when U.K. Counter Terrorism Policing arrested a dual U.K.-Iranian citizen on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. A second man was questioned under caution, and authorities searched two properties in connection with the case.
President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. is currently reviewing the situation. “We’re studying it right now. We’re studying it. We’re studying it very hard,” Trump said. When pressed on the British response, he questioned the decision to release the detainees, noting, “The U.K. did release a number of people that we caught wanting to blow up a base. We caught them early and I’m trying to figure out if that’s for real, if they actually did it.”
Iranian officials have denied involvement in the plot. Foreign Minister Aragachi dismissed the allegations, stating, “I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
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