UK Says Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Likely Directed RAF Fairford Plot
publishers 141articles 304first reported 27 Sep, 08:15 UTCdeveloping since 27 Sep · 21 editions
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran and “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Five British men were arrested near the airbase in southwestern England early on September 27 on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences. Police found petrol in three vans connected to the men but no explosives, according to Al Jazeera. The five were later released on police bail. Authorities subsequently made additional arrests as part of the investigation, but no charges have been reported.
RAF Fairford is used by the U.S. Air Force and had hosted American bombers involved in strikes against Iran. The United States later withdrew B-1 and B-52 bombers from the base. U.S. officials told Reuters that the suspected plot involved a possible drone attack.
Burnham told Parliament that Britain would impose further sanctions to limit Iran and the IRGC’s ability to conduct hostile activity. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband summoned Iran’s ambassador and announced sanctions against two Iranians accused of facilitating espionage or attacks on Tehran’s behalf in Europe and the United States. Deutsche Welle identified them as IRGC counterespionage official Ruhollah Bazghandi and alleged criminal-network facilitator Shahram Ali Reza Tamarzadeh Jakki.
Iranian Ambassador Ali Mousavi rejected the allegations, asked Britain to provide supporting evidence and said Tehran was willing to assist with the investigation, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 288 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 304
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 288 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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