British PM Burnham: “There are strong indications” Iran played a role in the incident near RAF Fairford base

Iran is believed to have been involved in the incident at the RAF Fairford air base, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed on Wednesday, as The Times reports. “There really is a strong indication that Iran played a role,” Burnham said, adding that it is a complex and serious police investigation “but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a role.”

His intervention was significant, as counter-terrorism police had until then not mentioned Iran in connection with the incident outside the Gloucestershire base in the early hours of Sunday. Tehran denied the accusations after five men were arrested for explosives and terrorism offences; all were later released on bail.

According to The Sun, Burnham also said the investigation is very serious and involves American colleagues: “We are working very closely with them.” The five suspects, all British nationals in their 20s living in London, were arrested at gunpoint near the base and released on bail on Monday.

Fears of an imminent terrorist attack eased after experts found petrol, not explosives, in the three vans the men had been travelling in. Police are examining several lines of inquiry, including whether the men were acting as Iranian proxies, conducting surveillance, testing the base’s security or sending a message to the British government. RAF Fairford has long been used by U.S. and NATO forces; since March, the U.S. has used it to launch strikes on Iran.