Five Londoners bailed after RAF Fairford suspicious vans arrest

Five British nationals living in London have been released on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The men, aged between 23 and 25, were detained on Sunday after suspicious vans were discovered close to the military base.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed on Monday that the suspects had been released on bail with stringent conditions. He emphasised that the investigation is ongoing and that police are exploring multiple lines of inquiry. 'To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over,' Mr Taylor said outside Scotland Yard.

Investigation Angles

Mr Taylor stated that police are considering all possibilities, including the involvement of proxies acting for a foreign state. 'At Counter Terrorism Policing, we are working within this context every single day and, at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation,' he said. He added that police are considering whether individuals were 'knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state'.

The suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, and one aged 24 from Willesden. All are UK nationals residing in London.

Discovery of Suspicious Vans

Gloucestershire Constabulary was first alerted to three suspicious vans travelling towards RAF Fairford at 12:45 am on Sunday. It is unclear what immediate action was taken in the hour following the initial alert. A local farmer, who spotted the vans and masked individuals, eventually called 999 at 1:36 am after receiving no answer from the Ministry of Defence Police.

Armed police arrived approximately 10 minutes after the 999 call. Bomb disposal experts examined the vans, leading to the evacuation of dozens of homes near the base. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood indicated on Monday that evacuated residents would soon be able to return to their properties.

The investigation continues, with police maintaining an open mind regarding the motives and potential affiliations of the arrested individuals.