Washington, Sept. 29 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the release on bail of five men arrested in Britain on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford, an air base used by U.S. forces.
AFP quoted Trump as telling reporters at the White House on Monday that he was “surprised that they released them,” while noting that British authorities had worked closely with the United States.
“We know everything about them. We would not have released them,” Trump said, according to the supplied report.
The five men, all British nationals in their 20s from London, were arrested early Sunday after police received reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling toward RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. They were detained on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and preparation of a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
British counterterrorism police said Monday that the five had been released on police bail following extensive interviews and inquiries but stressed that the investigation was continuing.
The men are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others and “absolutely remain under investigation,” Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said. Police said they were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry and keeping an open mind over whether the wider geopolitical situation was connected to the incident.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to discuss details of the case but told Fox News that what happened in Britain was extremely serious and “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.” He did not identify the alleged actor or publicly provide evidence supporting that assessment.
Trump separately said the incident “might be” connected to Iran but declined to elaborate. British counterterrorism police have not publicly attributed the incident to Iran or another state, while Iran’s embassy in London has denied involvement.
The developments came as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened an emergency Cobra meeting of senior officials to establish the “full picture” surrounding the incident.
Police declared a major incident after the arrests Sunday, deploying counterterrorism investigators, military assets and forensic experts near the base.
T.S /R.K
