The investigation began after reports of three suspicious vehicles near the base on Sept. 27. Police recovered petrol but found no improvised explosive devices. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications that Iran played a part,” while stressing that the investigation remains ongoing. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the allegation, telling Britain: “You're barking up the wrong tree.”
The US withdrew all 12 B-1 bombers from Fairford on Sunday amid warnings of a possible Iranian drone attack. Current and former British officials now warn that the withdrawal may embolden Iran and Russia to use criminal proxies to disrupt Western military operations. British officials maintain that Fairford remains highly secure and the risk of a successful attack is low. Former RAF commander Greg Bagwell called the handling of the withdrawal “very damaging” to perceptions of UK base security, citing limited communication between the two countries.