By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-27 16:11:03 | Updated at 2026-09-27 17:05:51
1 hour ago
A former Metropolitan Police Detective has offered his expert assessment of the suspected terror incident near RAF Fairford, where five individuals were arrested under terror and explosive offences.
Kevin Hurley, a retired Detective Chief Superintendent, told GB News about the unfolding investigation, outlining the complex forensic operation now under way and the potential motivations that could lie behind the apparent plot.
Mr Hurley described RAF Fairford as a critical reinforcement facility for the US Air Force, noting it boasts one of the longest runways anywhere in the country.
The base serves as a surge point for American B-1 and B-52 bombers, he explained, as well as for their aerial refuelling tanker aircraft.
"The big airliners act like a gas station in the sky, so it's a really important base for the Americans," he told GB News.
The former detective also drew attention to the geographical significance of where the suspects were apprehended. Whelford, he pointed out, sits in close proximity to the end of the air base's runway.
"What's quite interesting, if you look at Whelford, it's not far off the end of the runway from the air base," Mr Hurley observed, underscoring why the location may have been chosen by those allegedly involved.
He outlined the extensive forensic process now being carried out at the scene. Personnel from the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Regiment, part of the Royal Logistic Corps, are currently conducting what is known as a render safe procedure on the three vehicles.
Kevin Hurley has offered his analysis on the attempted 'bomb plot' at RAF Fairfield
GB NEWS
"Making sure all the bits and pieces in those vehicles are safe, to then be taken to be forensically examined where they'll all be taken off, then to Porton Down to the Defence Scientific and Technical Laboratory there to see what can be gleaned from that in terms of any forensic evidence," he explained.
The material being gathered for analysis encompasses a wide range of evidence types. "Fingerprints, DNA, the explosive makeup of the devices, tapings, cuttings of wires, all of which can be used later," Mr Hurley said.
He added that any mobile phones recovered by officers would simultaneously be scrutinised at pace to establish what intelligence they might yield.
Investigators are also conducting what Mr Hurley termed a "lifestyle" inquiry to establish the identities of the five detained individuals and map out their connections.
The terrorism legislation under which they were arrested affords officers considerable time to build their case.
"They're in a fortunate position because they're arrested under terrorism legislation. They can initially hold them for up to seven days and then get it extended with a magistrate or district judge up to another seven, so 14 days to work with," he said.
Mr Hurley acknowledged, however, that the forensic retrieval process would be time-consuming. He noted that DNA evidence could prove particularly valuable should the suspects decline to cooperate with questioning.
"If there is DNA on that, that may well give them some idea of the ethnic makeup of these people if they're refusing to talk, as will the swabs that they take from their mouths, which helps to get a picture of who they are and where they're from," he explained.
Mr Hurley told GB News that police are in a 'fortunate position' with the investigation as the suspects could be held for 'up to 14 days'
GB NEWS
Turning to the question of who might be responsible, Mr Hurley suggested the scale of the police and military response indicated the incident was being treated with the utmost seriousness. He identified two principal lines of inquiry regarding potential motivation.
"The best guesses are it could potentially be an Islamist driven threat, because they're anti-America's support for Israel in Palestine or it could be state-driven actors or even local actors from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, not above them to do something here because of what America has been involved in doing in Iran," he said.
Mr Hurley also addressed the wider strategic implications, linking the incident to Keir Starmer's decision to permit American forces to use the base for refuelling and staging bomber operations.
The risk of retaliatory strikes on British soil was an inherent consequence of that choice, he argued, but one that came with Britain's role in countering terrorism and preventing states such as Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
