US President Donald Trump has criticised the United Kingdom’s decision to release on police bail five men arrested near RAF Fairford over a suspected terrorist plot, saying he would not have allowed them to be released. The five men, all British nationals in their 20s and from London, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday after police received reports of suspicious vehicles travelling towards the Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire. They were detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.

“I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that,” Trump told reporters on Monday. His comments came a day after he praised the arrests and said the suspects had been stopped before they could cause “big damage” at the facility. Trump has also suggested that the incident could have a connection to Iran, saying it “might be” linked to the country. However, British counterterrorism authorities have not established such a link and have said investigators are keeping an open mind about the motive and possible affiliations of those arrested.

The arrests followed a report about three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford at around 12:45 am on Sunday. Armed officers responded and detained five men. The vehicles were subsequently subjected to extensive examination involving military personnel and forensic specialists. A cordon was established around the area and significant security resources were deployed. Residents in the nearby area were temporarily affected by the security operation as investigators examined the vehicles and worked to establish whether there had been an actual attempt to attack the base.

British counterterrorism officials said on Monday that the five men were released on police bail following extensive interviews and inquiries. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor stressed that the decision did not mean the investigation had ended. The suspects remain under investigation and are subject to stringent conditions concerning their movements and contact with other people. Taylor said investigators were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including whether the incident could have involved individuals acting as proxies for a foreign state, either knowingly or unknowingly.

The possibility of foreign involvement has attracted particular attention because RAF Fairford is being used by the United States Air Force during its military operations involving Iran. US officials have raised the possibility of an Iranian connection, while British authorities have not publicly confirmed that assessment. Reuters reported that investigators were examining several possible explanations, including potential links to Iran, Russia or Islamist groups. Iran’s embassy in London has denied involvement, describing speculation about an Iranian role as unfounded.

The circumstances surrounding the arrests have also generated questions about what investigators found in the vehicles and how close the suspects came to the military facility. Police have continued examining the evidence as part of the counterterrorism investigation, while officials have avoided drawing conclusions about the alleged plot before the inquiry is complete. The release on bail therefore reflects the current legal status of the suspects rather than a conclusion that no offence took place. All five remain subject to police investigation and restrictions.

RAF Fairford remains an important military facility because of its role in supporting US operations and its use by American aircraft. The incident prompted heightened security measures around the base and continued police activity in the surrounding area. Authorities have urged the public to remain alert while also avoiding speculation about the motive or individuals involved. Counterterrorism police said protective security measures remain in place and that resources will continue to be deployed as investigators assess the available evidence.

For now, the central questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered: what the five men intended to do, whether the vehicles contained material capable of causing harm, and whether anyone else directed or assisted their actions. British investigators are continuing to examine those questions while the suspects remain on bail. Trump’s criticism has added an international political dimension to the case, but the investigation itself remains with British authorities, who have yet to establish a definitive motive or foreign connection.