Predictable, really. With a full-scale investigation underway following the arrests made next to RAF Fairford, police were quick to quell rampant speculation, as the work to piece together the full picture continues in earnest. However, Reform aren’t in the mood to heed the advice.
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RAF Fairford – what has happened?
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Counter Terrorism Police were called to a site near the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. This followed a report from a local resident, who reported seeing three suspicious vans speeding towards the airbase – which is used extensively by US forces.
It is understood they were deliberately targeting the military location. Five men were arrested, and under current anti-terror laws, can now be detained for up to two weeks while police continue their investigations. It’s reported that the charges also include offences contravening the Explosives Act.
A total of 85 households in the region have now been evacuated, and security protocols have been ramped up as a result. Earlier on Sunday, Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone issued an update, urging people ‘not to speculate’ during the initial investigation stage.
“The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents. A cordon is in place as a precaution and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time. We’d like to thank the residents who have left their homes this morning for their understanding”
“We appreciate the disruption this will have caused and would like to reassure them we are working as quickly as we can to get them back in their properties. We would ask the public not to speculate but to follow official channels for updates.” | Richard Ocone
Reform response ignores police plea over RAF Fairford incident
However, Ocone’s request already appears to have fallen on deaf ears with the most senior members of Reform. Richard Tice has demanded that full details of the suspects’ identities must be made public. Robert Jenrick and Nigel Farage, meanwhile, have wasted no time in assuming there’s a link to small boats.
“I have been warning both in and out of Parliament for many months about Iranian agents coming into the UK via small boats across the Channel. We deserve to be told the truth about the Fairford bomb plotters’ identities.” | Nigel Farage
“When I revealed terrorists were using the small boats to enter the UK, the Home Office – with the support of Yvette Cooper – threatened me. They sought to cover up a national security emergency. We may now be seeing the consequences of their unforgivable complacency.” | Robert Jenrick
Reform leader slammed for ‘playing politics’
Police are yet to confirm any of the details mentioned by Reform’s top brass so far, and their response has also ended up drawing a backlash. Among the myriad of criticism, Dan Hodges – Commentator for the Mail on Sunday – suggests Mr Farage has subsequently proved why ‘he is not fit’ to be Prime Minister.
“Security services of the UK and the US still trying to gather information on scale and nature of the threat. Either Nigel Farage understands the authorities can’t release this information, and is playing politics. Or he doesn’t, in which case it underlines why he isn’t fit to be PM.” | Dan Hodges