British police arrested a seventh suspect Tuesday in connection with a widening investigation into a suspected plot backed by Iran to attack an air base that hosts U.S. bombers.
The 22-year-old British national was taken into custody in London on suspicion of planning an act of terrorism, Counter Terrorism Policing said in a statement.
Over the weekend, Pentagon commanders abruptly evacuated a fleet of about a dozen long-range B-1 bombers from the Royal Air Force Fairford base, roughly 75 miles northwest of London, after multiple streams of intelligence warned of a possible attack, according to two people familiar with the decision and a British official, who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week that “there are strong indications” that Iran was involved in the suspected plot. Tehran has denied involvement.
In late September, police detained five men in white vans outside RAF Fairford, raising concerns over the security of the U.S. bombers. Gasoline, but not explosives, was found in the vans, Counter Terrorism Policing said. U.S. and British officials suggested that Iran might have paid the suspects, but the details are unclear. A sixth suspect was later detained.
President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that the aircraft removed from the air base “didn’t fly out by accident.” He also said the U.S. knows who made the threat.
Greg Miller and Steve Hendrix contributed to this report.
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