Rubio Says a ‘Foreign Actor’ Was Involved In Alleged Terror Plot Against British Airbase
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that an alleged terror plot against an airbase in the United Kingdom that is used by the U.S. involved a “foreign actor.”
“What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the U.K. over the weekend is a very serious situation,” Rubio said while speaking on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.”
“I won’t get into great detail about that yet,” Rubio added.
Early Sunday morning, five men described as British nationals between 23 and 25 were held on suspicion that they were planning to attack the RAF Fairford base. U.S. forces have used the Fairford airbase as a command outpost for strikes against Iranian targets.
A woman called police after she saw the men and three white vans parked on a road leading to the airbase. Counterterrorism police descended on the area and held the men on suspicion of planning a terrorist act. Images showed the men being detained and large black canisters on the road near the vans.
The men were released on bail on Monday. No charges have been filed against the men so far.
“I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is, we are dealing with elements in the world, and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally,” Rubio said. “We’re going to always take that very seriously. There will be repercussions for that, if it ever were to happen or even attempted.”
Iran has denied any involvement in the incident. The country’s embassy in the UK stated that Iran “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base.”
“The Circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK,” officials said in the statement.
