Trump says those detained in UK planned major damage to US base

US President Donald Trump said that individuals detained in the United Kingdom over a possible planned terrorist attack at RAF Fairford had been under intelligence surveillance for a long time and were planning to cause major damage to the base. He made the comments to reporters on an airfield in Illinois while traveling to the Presidents Cup golf tournament in Chicago.

Trump described the arrest in Britain as "fantastic" and said cooperation with the UK had gone extremely well. He said US authorities had investigated the detainees' activity and determined they were planning to inflict serious damage on the base. The US president did not disclose any possible motives behind the alleged plot, only noting that the suspects had been under observation for a long time before being detained.

Arrest and investigation

RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire, has been used by US forces for operations against Iran. On September 27, several people in the UK were taken into custody on suspicion of offences under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with an incident near the base. It later emerged that counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation and that the detainees are suspected of preparing a terrorist attack.

Authorities have so far not confirmed any connection between the suspects and Iran. It is worth recalling that in July, the UK stated its armed forces were ready to defend the country against any attack, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had warned against allowing American bombers to take off from Fairford.