US’s Marco Rubio says UK airbase incident involved ‘foreign actor’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has linked a suspected bomb plot near a UK airbase used by the US military to a 'foreign actor.' Five British nationals were arrested following reports of suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, though they have since been released on bail.
Why it matters
The incident highlights heightened geopolitical tensions and potential security threats to military infrastructure, with high-level officials suggesting state-sponsored involvement.
Washington’s top diplomat calls the suspected plot ‘a very serious situation’ after five were arrested over the weekend.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Rubio believes the alleged plot 'clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor' [File: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP and Reuters Published On 29 Sep 2026 29 Sep 2026 United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said a “foreign actor” was involved in a suspected bomb plot near an airbase in the United Kingdom used by the US military.
Police arrested five men, all British nationals from London, in their early to mid-20s, on Sunday after being alerted by a local farmer about three white vans driving towards RAF Fairford, a British base that houses US bombers flying missions against Iran.
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