RAF Fairford Big-Scale Attack Try Represents Serious Threat To US

So far we don't know anything much about the terrorist plan of attack. The fact that the five were outside the vans when they (perhaps others too) were spotted, opens the question of what was the exact plan for the attack. Did the five (perhaps others) run when they were spotted?

We do not know if the vans were rented or purchased.

It is obvious this was a well planned and financed operation that involved not only assembling the terrorists and training them but also provided intelligence and coordinates on how to strike the airbase. This means more than just five guys operating on their own. It suggests a well coordinated plan of attack backed by significant resources.

We don't know where the explosives and other gear came from. If UK police and intelligence services had any warning, we don't know if that included tracking the acquisition of bomb-making materials.

In practical terms this means that it is reasonable to believe a significant terrorist organization remains operational in the UK. No additional arrests have been announced. The government has not indicated any public concern about a larger threat inside the UK.

Most observers say that the attack was an Iranian-led operation because Iran had a strong motive to disrupt American bombing operations. There are well over 100,000 persons in the UK born in Iran. It is likely the number of persons of Iranian background born in the UK is significantly higher, and Iran has support from the likes of Hezbollah (Lebanon) and Iraq and its Iran-aligned militias.

There is a disconnect between what President Trump said about the planned attack and what was seen on the ground when the terrorists were apprehended. Trump said that the successful interception was the result of close collaboration between American and British intelligence services. He stated that the suspects were“looking to do big damage to our fort” (referring to the UK air base which is shared by the US). He revealed that US and British intelligence had been tracking the individuals beforehand, noting,“We had them under investigation.... We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”

The problem is the operation was exposed by a local woman who was shocked to see three large white vans blocking a road close to RAF Fairford. Her arrival reportedly sent a group of men running into fields around the airbase. She called the police who arrived some 25 minutes later, according to news reports. Having the terror group“under investigation” did not lead to the police intervention to block the attack. In plain terms this means that the threat was known, but the intelligence services and police authorities did not know operational details including the location and timing of the planned attack.