The U.S. knew in advance that Iran could attack a British target, Homeland Security chief says

The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, has said Washington knew in advance that Iran could attack a target in the United Kingdom, before the arrests of five men near the RAF Fairford air base last weekend, as Al Jazeera reports.

“We had been following this with our colleagues in London, giving them a warning,” Mullin said in an interview with the U.S. television network Fox News, adding that “we just did not know where it would come from.”

The five men were arrested on Sunday near the RAF Fairford base on suspicion of “preparing a terrorist act” under British counter-terrorism laws, but were released on bail by police a day later.

Mullin criticised the release: “Britain’s laws are very different from ours. I ask the same thing. Why are you releasing these individuals?” he said. President Trump also said he was surprised by the suspects’ release: “I would not have done that.”

The incident has worsened London–Tehran relations: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said yesterday there are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in the incident, while Iran rejected the accusations as baseless and summoned the British ambassador.