British counter-terrorism police have re-arrested two men on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service as part of the investigation into activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire last month, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said on Tuesday. A 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, both from the borough of Westminster in London, were re-arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Police said the country to which the investigation relates is Iran.

The 24-year-old man was first arrested near RAF Fairford on 27 September, and the 25-year-old was first arrested on 1 October in Westminster. Three suspicious vans were spotted near the airbase on 27 September and a quantity of petrol was found inside, reports said. Seven men have been arrested in connection with the investigation in total; the other five men remain on police bail.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said: 'Since the events at RAF Fairford on Sunday 27 September, our specialist teams have been working tirelessly to interrogate the many lines of enquiry involved in this hugely complex investigation. As a result of the ongoing efforts of our officers, earlier today two of those men were re-arrested for offences relating to Section 3 of the National Security Act — assisting a foreign intelligence service. This is very much a live investigation, and our evidence gathering continues, but at this time our position remains the same; we consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement.' That assessment is the police's position, reported as such. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied his country's involvement in the incident.

RAF Fairford is used by US forces. Earlier this month the US removed its bombers from the base, partly because of a reported threat of a possible Iranian drone attack, American officials told NBC, according to Sky News reporting. US President Donald Trump later told reporters that 'threats' led to the decision to remove the US bombers, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s.

Sources: Counter Terrorism Policing statement, 20 October 2026, as reported by PA Media (via Messenger Newspapers and Hello Rayo) and Sky News (via Great Yorkshire Radio); BBC reporting referenced by regional outlets, 20 October 2026.