The plot at RAF Fairford and Britain's finding that Iran played a part

Active · last development Oct 1: “Dual UK-Iranian national arrested over security incident at US-run air base in England”

What this arc covers

The September 2026 security incident near RAF Fairford, the English air base US bombers have used to strike Iran: the arrest and release on bail of five men on suspicion of explosives offenses, Prime Minister Andy Burnham's statement that Iran played a part, Iran's denial, and the arrest of a dual British-Iranian national.

Photo from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with UK releases five men arrested near US-operated air base amid terror probe (Sep 27), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Sep 27, 2026 · 4 stories · 107 independent sources (counted once each) · 4 days

Part ofUnited KingdomIranEnglandAndy Burnham

Part of The US-Iran war

  1. Strikes and their immediate aftermathJan 9 – Sep 25, 2026
  2. Ceasefire and peace negotiationsJan 12 – Oct 1, 2026
  3. Passage through the Strait of HormuzFeb 17 – Sep 21, 2026
  4. Israel's 2026 war with Hezbollah and its first direct talks with LebanonFeb 23 – Sep 17, 2026
  5. Congress's war powers votes and the fight over the warFeb 28 – Sep 27, 2026
  6. Oil prices, gas prices and the market falloutFeb 28 – Sep 30, 2026
  7. The Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Saudi ArabiaJul 13 – Sep 26, 2026
  8. The plot at RAF Fairford and Britain's finding that Iran played a partThis arcSep 27 – Oct 1, 2026
Show remaining 5 arcs
  1. Militia attacks on US troops in the Middle East and the Jordan drone strikeOct 18, 2023 – Dec 17, 2024
  2. Iran and Israel's first direct strikes on each other, in April and October 2024Apr 1 – Nov 13, 2024
  3. Trump's 2025 nuclear talks with IranFeb 7 – Nov 16, 2025
  4. The 12-day Israel-Iran war of June 2025 and the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sitesJun 12 – Jul 11, 2025
  5. Iran's leadership losses, succession and protestsDec 29, 2025 – Sep 2, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Oct 1Dual UK-Iranian national arrested over security incident at US-run air base in England30 articles · 28 independent sources
4 left, 10 center, 6 right
Sep 28Tipster in RAF Fairford plot had 'partial picture,' British minister says amid probe9 articles · 2 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 27– Oct 1UK says there are strong indications Iran played a part in a security incident at a US-run air base55 articles · 37 independent sources
6 left, 17 center, 8 right

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Sep 21Sep 28

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Sep 21, 2026113714147
Sep 28, 2026163921198

19% left · 57% center · 24% right of 107 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 4 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. September 2026

    Sep 27– 30UK releases five men arrested near US-operated air base amid terror probe282 articles · 95 independent sources
    18 left, 53 center, 25 right
  2. Sep 27– Oct 1UK says there are strong indications Iran played a part in a security incident at a US-run air base55 articles · 37 independent sources
    6 left, 17 center, 8 right
  3. Sep 28Tipster in RAF Fairford plot had 'partial picture,' British minister says amid probe9 articles · 2 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right

  4. October 2026

    Oct 1Dual UK-Iranian national arrested over security incident at US-run air base in England30 articles · 28 independent sources
    4 left, 10 center, 6 right