'Strong indications' Iran behind RAF Fairford incident, UK prime minister says - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says there are "strong indications" of Iranian involvement in an incident near RAF Fairford, a UK air base used by the US military in recent operations against Iran.

Five men were arrested on suspicion of terror and explosives offences on Sunday morning.

Donald Trump has previously said the plot was being monitored by intelligence services and could have done "big damage".

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says there are "strong indications" Iran played a role in an incident near a Royal Air Force Base in England.

Five men were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences over the incident, which unfolded on Sunday morning, local time. They were later released on bail.

Police later said they discovered petrol but no explosive devices in the vehicles.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Burnham said UK authorities "believe Iran to have played a part" in the plot.

"There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened on the weekend," Mr Burnham said.

"But of course, it remains an ongoing, complex and serious police investigation, and of course we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America."

Iran has previously denied involvement.

The incident unfolded on Sunday morning, local time, at a key RAF installation. (Reuters: Toby Shepheard)

RAF Fairford is located west of London and has been used by US aircraft in military operations against Iran in recent months.

The five men, all British nationals from London, were arrested after one of those allegedly involved called authorities in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A farmer later called emergency services to report three vehicles and men in balaclavas acting suspiciously. 

US government officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, openly raised the prospect of foreign involvement in the incident earlier this week. 

Shortly after the arrests, Mr Trump said the men had planned "big damage" and Mr Rubio later pointed at "a foreign actor".

Until Mr Burnham's remarks, Britain had not linked the incident to Iran, though counter-terrorism police have said their investigation included the possibility of foreign state involvement and whether the incident could involve proxies "knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state".