The Free Press · October 8, 2026 · By Douglas Murray

Arrests Near RAF Fairford; Suspects Released on Bail

• The column reports that at the end of September 2026, a woman living near RAF Fairford alerted authorities to suspicious behavior; police arrested five men in their 20s, then one more man a few days later and another in the week of publication.
• The column reports that President Donald Trump announced a major terrorist attack had been foiled, and that the U.S. and its ally had been following the terror cell for some time.
• The column reports that in the days after the incident, Trump and others said the cell appeared to be targeting U.S. military infrastructure in the UK, and that the UK government suggested Iran may be involved.
• The column reports that all suspects were released on bail within 24 hours of their arrests.
• The column reports that the U.S. asked the UK, among other allies, to let American bombers refuel at Royal Air Force bases during this year's joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program; that the UK first denied the request and later allowed some refueling stops; and that the bombers have since left the UK.

The piece is an opinion column and is paywalled; the summary covers the full text the page exposes. The events and statements above are the column's reporting and claims, not independently verified here. Original headline: "Douglas Murray: What Will Happen to Europe If America Leaves?".