Iran denies link to attack on airbase as UK minister warns of ‘proxies’
Tehran condemns 'unfounded and malicious speculation'; British FM vows to 'act against the proxies of Iran'.
Iran has denied any involvement in a suspected plot targeting the Fairford Airbase in the United Kingdom.
Iran’s embassy in London condemned in a statement on Monday the “fabricated speculations” linking Tehran to the incident. Five British nationals were arrested in the vicinity of the base, which hosts United States military aircraft that have been used to bomb Iran amid the conflict between the two countries.
The suspects were detained on Sunday morning on suspicion of the “preparation of a terrorist act”. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Monday that the UK must be prepared to “confront” all security threats facing Europe and the world, adding: “We will act against the proxies of Iran.”
On Sunday, a source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive is considered the most likely, while a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at.