An MP and councillors representing the residents of the village near RAF Fairford who were evacuated due to a suspected terror plot have expressed scepticism and concern over the security response to threats made by Iran.
About 85 properties in Whelford, Gloucestershire, were evacuated on Sunday morning after five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences in the village. The men, who were later re-arrested on suspicion of terror offences, were released on bail on Monday.
It is understood some residents were returning to their properties late on Monday, but a cordon remains around the village.
As speculation mounted over the circumstances surrounding the incident, concerns emerged about how events were handled by the authorities. In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps noted RAF Fairford’s use by US bombers, warning the UK that “any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces”.
However, it remains unclear who or what was behind the alleged activity. Iran has denied any involvement. Tehran’s embassy in London condemned what it described as “unfounded and malicious speculation” linking the country to the incident in the vicinity of the military base in Gloucestershire.
Roz Savage, the MP for South Cotswolds, said she had many questions about the circumstances of how the alleged terror plot was averted.
The Liberal Democrat MP, whose constituency covers the military base, said she would be writing to the prime minister and the defence secretary with her concerns.
“Ever since it was first announced six months ago that RAF Fairford was going to be used as the base for US military airstrikes on Iran, I’ve been asking questions of the government about whether they can assure my residents, my constituents, of their safety,” she said.
“They had given that assurance. However, I feel that the events of this weekend do cast that into doubt.”
She went on: “Who knew what? When did they know it? Where was the ball dropped? What more could have been done to secure the safety and security of my constituents?
“We are already in the process of writing to the secretary of state for defence and to the prime minister to try and ascertain the answers to some of these questions.”
There have been conflicting statements about who knew what and when. A farmer from Whelford told reporters she called police in the early hours of Sunday to report suspicious activity – which then triggered a rapid response.
But the US president, Donald Trump, also suggested to reporters the men had been under surveillance. Now, the men have been released on police bail.
Tristan Wilkinson, a cabinet member for Cotswold district council and councillor for the Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South ward, which covers Whelford, said: “The American president indicated last night in front of journalists that there was some intelligence and that these individuals were under surveillance.
“If that was to be true, that they would have been allowed to get so close to the base and drive what was, at the time, believed to be bombs into residential areas of a small village, I can’t imagine the security services allowing that to happen.
“I would have expected them to have done a hard stop on the van before they got to people’s homes. So that that doesn’t feel right.
“It seems insane that this appears to have been a tipoff from a member of the public, and the security services are claiming that there was a level of intelligence involved as well. I don’t see how those two things can both come through at the same time.”
He went on: “Back in July, the Iranians issued a statement saying that any countries that were providing military and practical support for the American effort were legitimate targets and at the time they named RAF Fairford specifically.
“So at that time, I and other civic leaders were calling for a more visible police presence to reassure residents, and that did happen.
“So from July, if you were around the base, you would have seen more police patrols.
“So if you’d parked a car up in a layby or somewhere near the base in the last few weeks, then you probably would have had the police contacting someone quickly to find out who you are and what you are doing.
“But I do think there’s been an increase in police presence in the last week as well. So I went past the base last Monday and I noticed that the non-manned entrances to the base have been fortified with vehicles.
“They put diggers and heavy vehicles in place that I’ve never seen before. So that’s quite an unusual step to block an emergency exit. So that led to speculation that maybe there was an increased level of concern from the base for them to use those measures.
“I wouldn’t expect the RAF to give a running commentary,” he added. “However, I think there’s always room for improvement. We have a significant military presence surrounded on three sides by residential housing. You can walk right up to the perimeter fence. There’s lots of military bases around the world that are quite remote for good reasons. So, the reality is this is a big military presence in a rural community.
“I will be asking for us to look at ways at how we can improve ongoing relations, and it’s not just relating to security matters. You know, we have other issues that you know with regard to flooding and noise, so there’s always more we can do.”
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