Britain says Iran was behind the plot at a US bomber base, and Iran's defense is that Britain let all the suspects go?
Thursday: Counterterrorism police arrested a 27-year-old British-Iranian dual national in central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts linked to Sunday's RAF Fairford incident. Police raided two properties and questioned a second man.
Sunday: Five men with three vans, in hoods and masks, outside the gates of the base America is bombing Iran from. Homes were evacuated, a bomb robot was sent in, and the airspace was closed.
A day and a half later: All five were released on bail. No explosives were found in the vans.
This week: The Prime Minister says Iran played a part.
Wednesday: Iran's foreign minister points to Britain's own bail decision as proof. You're "barking up the wrong tree."
Thursday: The arrest in London, and police now call the case "hugely complex."
In four days the government went from "the farmer only had a partial picture" to "this was Iran." In between, it opened the cell doors and gave Tehran a gift-wrapped defense.
So here's the choice.
Either Iran plotted against a US bomber base on British soil and the state let every suspect stroll home before Monday was out.
Or the case was never there, and a Prime Minister pointed at a country his closest ally is at war with because it sounded tough.
One is a security failure. The other is a propaganda failure.
Britain managed both in one week.
nytimes.com/2026/10/01/wor…
- Britain says Iran was behind the plot at a US bomber base, and Iran's defense is that Britain let all the suspects go? Thursday: Counterterrorism police arrested a 27-year-old British-Iranian dual national in central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts linked to Sunday's RAF Fairford incident. Police raided two properties and questioned a second man. Sunday: Five men with three vans, in hoods and masks, outside the gates of the base America is bombing Iran from. Homes were evacuated, a bomb robot was sent in, and the airspace was closed. A day and a half later: All five were released on bail. No explosives were found in the vans. This week: The Prime Minister says Iran played a part. Wednesday: Iran's foreign minister points to Britain's own bail decision as proof. You're "barking up the wrong tree." Thursday: The arrest in London, and police now call the case "hugely complex." In four days the government went from "the farmer only had a partial picture" to "this was Iran." In between, it opened the cell doors and gave Tehran a gift-wrapped defense. So here's the choice. Either Iran plotted against a US bomber base on British soil and the state let every suspect stroll home before Monday was out. Or the case was never there, and a Prime Minister pointed at a country his closest ally is at war with because it sounded tough. One is a security failure. The other is a propaganda failure. Britain managed both in one week. nytimes.com/2026/10/01/wor…
Two propaganda failures in a week. Burnham had to show the Iranian hand, Dubai had to show the Omani hand. Both seems to have gone kaput.
@gothburz your onto something here ..