Five men arrested over a suspected bomb plot near an RAF base have been released on bail, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The suspects, who are all British nationals aged in their twenties and from London, were arrested over potential terror offences in Whelford, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of Sunday.

They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of terrorism offences, after a villager dialled 999 when she saw three vans and a group of masked men near the base.

Dozens of homes had to be evacuated as bomb disposal teams were called in and a cordon remains in place. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said on Monday afternoon that Whelford residents will shortly be able to return home.

Assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor told reporters outside New Scotland Yard: “I can confirm that following extensive interviews and inquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.

“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.”

The five suspects are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, central London; and one man aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.

Police are understood to be investigating whether any potential plot could be linked to Iran, which has used proxies to carry out crimes on British soil in the past.

Its London embassy said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” of Iranian involvement, while police asked to be given space to work amid “geopolitical questions” around motivation.

Speaking at New Scotland Yard, Mr Taylor said he knows there is “significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident”.

Mr Taylor continued: “At counter-terrorism policing, we are working within this context every single day, and at this stage, we are keeping an open mind in this investigation.

“We have, as you would expect, ensured that our protective security advice and posture remain commensurate to the threat.

“But be assured, we are considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals, either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state.”

Counter Terrorism Policing said on Monday that multiple new lines of inquiry have emerged after investigators were working at the scene overnight.

Its senior national coordinator, deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans, said: “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the Ministry of Defence, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.

“I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I’d like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety.

“I’d also like to thank the emergency services for their response, including the armed officers who first attended the scene, not knowing what they may face.

“I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly.”

Gloucestershire Constabulary were initially alerted to three suspicious vans travelling towards RAF Fairford at 12.45am on Sunday, and it is unclear what action was taken in the hour that followed.

The local farmer who spotted the vans and a group of masked men initially called the Ministry of Defence police but there was no answer, so called 999 at 1.36am, and armed police arrived around 10 minutes later.

She claimed the police had “dropped the ball”, telling journalists: “Who knew that a farmer would have to roll their sleeves up and report the activity?”

A pensioner living nearby described an apparent increase in Fairford’s security in recent weeks, telling PA that heavy tractor-like vehicles had been parked and concrete walls laid behind the gates.

has also seen a message from a WhatsApp residents’ group chat showing that, shortly before 6pm on Saturday, one resident claimed to be told by armed officers there was intelligence over an “imminent” attack.

“On Saturday afternoon, some of our neighbours were walking their dogs up the lane,” said Charlie Clements, a local resident.

“They were approached by armed police, and they were basically told to go home. All they were told was that they were asking people to stay away from the base, but they wouldn't say anything.”

Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot spending hours inspecting three white vans, two of which had open rear doors. Large black barrels appeared to be scattered around.

US president Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday the suspects were looking to “do big damage”. Defence secretary Wes Streeting said on Monday the UK must not be “cowed by sabre-rattling from Iran” or allow the country to “dictate our foreign policy”, while stressing it was “too early to attribute background aims”.

The arrests come amid heightened concerns around the threat from hostile states to the UK, with Russia and Iran among those that have used proxies to commit crimes on their behalf.

Officials said in March the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states, including Iran, had increased 50 per cent in the six months to December 2025.

That same month, after then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford and the US started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”.

Separately, a spate of antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in London this year were claimed by a group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (Hayi), which is thought to be backed by Iran.

Support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hayi was banned in July by Sir Keir.

Under the state threat powers, anyone supporting or assisting the groups will face a maximum punishment of 14 years in prison, but ministers will need parliamentary approval first.