Two men have been re-arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service in connection with an incident near RAF Fairford last month, counter-terrorism police announced on Tuesday. The investigation is understood to relate to Iran.

A 24-year-old UK national and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national are currently being held under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. Police stated that the investigation is "very much a live investigation" and that evidence gathering continues.

The re-arrests follow an alert on September 27 regarding three suspicious vehicles near the US airbase in Gloucestershire. A major incident was declared, leading to the evacuation of dozens of homes. A bomb disposal team was deployed, and petrol was found in three vans near the airbase, resulting in the initial arrest of five men.

These men were first detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, and later re-arrested on suspicion of preparing for a terrorist act. However, police later confirmed no improvised explosive devices were found. The two men now re-arrested were initially detained on September 27 and October 1 respectively.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that investigators "consider it highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement" and are examining the extent and ambition of this involvement. He acknowledged that national security investigations are complex and time-consuming.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously indicated strong suggestions of Iranian involvement in the incident. Iran has consistently denied any participation. The incident occurred shortly before the US military withdrew B-1 and B-52 bombers from RAF Fairford, a base used for decades as a forward operating location by the US Air Force.

US President Donald Trump stated the aircraft were removed due to unspecified threats to the base, while Vice-President JD Vance described the move as "out of an abundance of caution." The US had been flying bombers from the base to the Middle East after the UK approved its use for defensive strikes against Iran.

In total, seven men have been arrested as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism investigation. The other five men, including a 22-year-old British national arrested in Westminster on October 6, remain on police bail.