BURNHAM SAYS STRONG INDICATIONS IRAN INVOLVED IN AIRBASE SCARE

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday there were "strong indications" that Iran played a part in suspicious activity at RAF Fairford over the weekend. He made the comments in an interview with the BBC, referring to a suspected bomb threat near the airbase in southwest England. The US military uses RAF Fairford as part of its campaign against Iran. Police arrested five men on suspicion of terrorist offences in connection with the incident. Police later released all five on bail.

Iran has denied any involvement in the incident. Counterterrorism police said they found no improvised explosive devices in the men's vehicle. Officers did discover a quantity of petrol in the vehicle, police said. The incident prompted a major security response at the airbase over the weekend. Burnham gave his assessment of Iranian involvement three days after the incident, without detailing the evidence behind it.

Burnham's remarks put the British government's assessment of the incident at odds with Iran's denial. RAF Fairford's role supporting US military action against Iran places the base at the centre of tensions linked to Iran. Counterterrorism police have not said whether the investigation into the incident remains open following the men's release on bail. No further evidence linking Iran to the incident has been made public.