Strange new detail emerges about man arrested in suspected RAF terror plot

The farmer was not the first person to call 999

The five suspects, all British nationals aged between 23 and 25 and from the London area, were detained on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences.

The investigation began after police received several pieces of information about suspicious activity near the Gloucestershire airbase in the early hours of Sunday.

According to senior counter-terrorism officer Laurence Taylor, officers were already responding to information when a local farmer made a 999 call about three suspicious vehicles near Whelford, a village directly east of RAF Fairford.

The woman had been driving home when she encountered a roadblock and saw what she described as a large group of men wearing masks and hoods.

She told the BBC she believed her call had “foiled whatever plans they had”.

But a report in The Times has since revealed another unusual detail. Around an hour before the farmer contacted emergency services, one of the suspects had apparently made a 999 call himself.

Police were already at the scene by the time the later call from the local resident came through.

Investigators are now considering why the suspect contacted police. The Times said they are looking into whether he had become frightened and changed his mind, or whether the call itself was part of the suspected plan.

The RAF Fairford investigation is nearing an end

The arrests were followed by searches of the vehicles, although officers did not find any improvised explosive devices.

Police did recover a quantity of petrol, however, and said the operation at RAF Fairford is expected to be brought to an end by Wednesday.

The five men were released on bail on Monday, a decision that has since drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump. He said: “I wouldn’t have done that.” Taylor defended the move, describing it as part of the ongoing investigation.

Questions have also been raised over whether the suspects had any overseas connections.

Iran has strongly denied being involved, while British police have not confirmed that there was a foreign link, although Taylor previously said the possibility was being investigated.