The head of British domestic intelligence (MI5), Ken MacCallum, announced that Iran seeks to target military sites in the United Kingdom, pointing out that the suspected plot to target the Royal Air Force base "Fairford" last September "is not a unique incident."
The "Associated Press" agency reported on Tuesday that MacCallum said Tehran seeks to expand the scope of its operations in Britain, going beyond targeting opponents of the Iranian authorities, noting that this includes arson and sabotage attacks targeting various sites. MacCallum clarified that Iran has shown a trend this year towards targeting more difficult sites, such as military facilities, pointing out that similar incidents have occurred in Britain and other countries.
These remarks come as British investigators are examining a suspected plot to target "Fairford" air base in western England, which is used by US forces. British authorities evacuated dozens of residents from the area surrounding the base on September 27, following the deployment of armed police and bomb disposal experts, while police found gasoline in three small trucks, without finding explosives.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that the plot is likely orchestrated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, while seven people in their twenties who were arrested in connection with the case were released on bail, with investigations ongoing. In the same context, a joint statement issued by 29 countries, led by Britain and the United States, acknowledged the conclusions reached by British authorities regarding suspicions of Iran's involvement in the incident.
According to the statement and British statements, it is likely that the attempt to target the base was coordinated by Iran, and the Revolutionary Guard issued orders to carry it out. The US Air Force returned its strategic bombers stationed at the "Fairford" British base to its bases within the United States on October 5, following investigations into a suspected plot to target the base.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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