Two men charged under security law over RAF Fairford incident
One is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service. The British government says Iran played a part, which Tehran’s embassy denies.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service on Tuesday charged two 24-year-old British nationals from London in connection with an incident at RAF Fairford, an air base used by U.S. forces. One is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service between Aug. 31 and Sept. 28. The other is accused of entering a prohibited place on Aug. 22 for a purpose prejudicial to the United Kingdom’s safety or interests. Both are presumed innocent.
On Sept. 27, police detained five men near the base in western England. Residents of a nearby town were evacuated, and gasoline but no explosives were found in three vans. According to Stars and Stripes, the United States withdrew all 12 of its B-1B bombers from the base on Oct. 4.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government believes Iran “played a part” in the incident. The Iranian Embassy in London rejected the allegations as “unfounded and malicious speculations.” Police said six other men remain on bail.