Terror Charges Near UK Air Force Base

Young men arrested on terror charges near an Air Force base in England used by

the US military are free on bond tonight.

The men were detained yesterday in connection with an alleged plan to

attack RAF Fairford, where American bombers have been stationed

for

decades. Correspondent Stephanie Bennett

is outside the base tonight.

Five British men are out on bail tonight after a suspected bomb plot against a

UK air base used by American forces in the war against

Iran, a move President Trump is questioning.

I'm surprised that they released them. I wouldn't have done that.

Look, they've been very good. They worked with us very closely.

Uh, we know everything about them.

Police say the suspects, aged 23 to 25, are from London.

They were initially taken into custody on suspicion of plotting a terrorist act.

They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore

multiple lines of inquiry.

It all started Sunday after midnight in Welford, 100 miles west of London,

near the Royal Air Force's Fairford base.

First thing I noticed was there's a vehicle on our farm drive,

and then I realized

there's three of them.

A local farmer was returning from a party when she spotted three suspicious

vehicles blocking her way. Suddenly, multiple masked men

took off into a nearby field.

It's such a flash moment of seeing them, but there were definitely more

than five. We think maybe between eight

and 10 of them.

The US has used RAF Fairford for B-52 and B-1 bomber

sorties in the Middle East, including against Iran.

Tehran had previously warned the UK that any base used to attack it is a

legitimate target, but Iran's London embassy rejects

and strongly

condemns claims the country is involved.

Still, police aren't ruling anything out.

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.

After an emergency cabinet meeting with the prime minister tonight, the defense

secretary said it's too early to make decisions around attribution of

this case. For now, 85 households were evacuated.

Most of those residents were allowed to go back home tonight.

Bret.

Stephanie Bennett outside the base. Stephanie, thanks.