Britain believes Iran was involved in incident near air base used by U.S., Prime Minister Andy Burnham says

LONDON — There are strong indications Tehran played a part in a security incident outside a British air base that U.S. forces use to facilitate strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday.

Burnham said he had chaired an emergency security meeting this week after the incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Sunday. Five men, all British nationals, were arrested on suspicion of terror and explosives offenses and were released on bail earlier this week.

“We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part,” he said in an interview with Sky News.

”This remains, though, a complex and very serious police investigation, so I can’t say any more at this stage,” he added.

The British Parliament is in recess, but Burnham said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to recall lawmakers “should that be necessary.”

Iran has denied any involvement in the incident.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world