Donald Trump Hits Out At Decision To Bail Five Men Over Suspected Terror Plot At RAF Base

Donald Trump has hit out at the decision to bail five men arrested over a suspected terror plot near an RAF base.

The US president said he was “surprised that they released them” and claimed American law enforcement would not have done so.

The five British nationals were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism on Sunday after three suspicious vans were found near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which is used by the US.

It is understood the material found was not viable explosives, but police have stressed that the investigation is continuing.

Police said they are considering “every possible angle”, including the use of proxies by a hostile state.

The head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: “Following extensive interviews and inquiries, the five men who were arrested are being released on police bail this afternoon.

“To be very clear, this does not mean that the investigation is over. They are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry.”

Andy Burnham chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the incident on Monday afternoon.

Afterwards, defence secretary Wes Streeting said: “We’re acutely aware that the events at RAF Fairford have caused considerable disruption to the local community and also wider public concern.

“What we can say at this stage is that the response of our policing, counter-terrorism policing and security services has been exemplary. The investigation remains ongoing.”

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the alleged plot “might be” linked to Iran – a claim vehemently denied by Tehran.

The president added: “I will tell you, I would have said ‘Don’t let them have bail’.

“I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that.”

But he repeated his praise of the UK police, saying: “They’ve been very good. They worked with us very closely. We know everything about them (the suspects). We would not have released them.”

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