President Donald Trump has launched a stinging critique of British law enforcement after terror suspects arrested near a strategic UK air base used by US military forces were released on bail. 

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump expressed his dismay over the UK’s decision to grant bail to the suspects following a major counter–terrorism operation at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

‘I’m just disappointed that they caught terrorists. How do you give bail to a terrorist?’ Trump said with disappointment. 

He added that this was a long–standing investigation the US was involved in but told a British reporter that their ‘fellow countrymen’ let them go. 

‘These were serious people, seriously bad people and they should not have done that yet,’ Trump added.

His comments follow revelations from police that while petrol was found inside the vans that triggered the security alert near the base, no actual explosive devices were discovered. 

The five men – initially arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses before being held under counter–terrorism laws – were all granted bail on Monday. Defending the move, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, stated that releasing the suspects was a tactical ‘investigative decision.’

Meanwhile, life was slowly returning to normal by Tuesday for residents near RAF Fairford, where dozens of villagers had been abruptly evacuated from their homes during Sunday morning’s dramatic operation.

President Donald Trump has launched a stinging critique of British law enforcement after terror suspects arrested near a strategic UK air base used by US military forces were released on bail

Five men were pictured as police arrested them on terror charges near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. They are all British, from London, and in their 20s, police said – and have all been since released on bail

Giving an update today, Mr Taylor said: ‘We can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found. However, a quantity of petrol was recovered.

‘Yesterday we released the five men on police bail. They remain under investigation and must adhere to strict conditions while we continue our work.

‘The safety of the public is at the forefront of our investigative decision making, and this was certainly the case yesterday.

‘I understand why this development will have come as a surprise to many, but I’d like to reiterate that it was investigative decision, and one which is grounded in experience and careful consideration of policing powers.’

The British nationals were detained on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences on Sunday after three vans were found near RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base that has been used by the US military to carry out strikes against Iran. 

Police officers guard an area as roadblocks remain in place near RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base

Assistant Commissioner Taylor stressed that public safety was at the ‘forefront’ of decision–making when letting suspects out on bail

The five suspects include a 24–year–old from Camden, north London; and a 23–year–old, two 24–year–olds, and a 25–year–old, all from Westminster, central London.

Police would not confirm when they are due to answer bail.

A major incident was sparked on Sunday morning with elite SAS troops deployed to the site from Hereford and an emergency COBRA meeting called by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. 

Residents from around 85 evacuated households were allowed to return home on Monday.

One local businesswoman complained the arrested men had been bailed and potentially allowed back to their homes before local residents in Whelford had.   

Police cordons near the base are expected to be completely lifted on Wednesday, and searches of the London homes of the five suspects have been completed. 

Earlier today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the plot ‘involved the hand of a foreign actor’.

In a television interview, Mr Rubio mentioned Iran by name, noting that the regime had previously threatened to target US interests. However, he stopped short of directly blaming Tehran for the incident. 

Counter terrorism police are continuing to investigate after petrol was recovered from vans found near RAF Fairford

Potential involvement by Iran was understood to be one line of inquiry for British investigators, and the nation has used proxies in the past to carry out acts in the UK. 

However, Tehran ‘categorically’ denied any involvement in the alleged plot in Gloucestershire. 

In a statement, its London embassy dismissed reports linking Tehran to the arrests as ‘unfounded and malicious speculations’.

The embassy added: ‘The circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK.

‘The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives.’

Rubio described the events near RAF Fairford as a ‘very serious situation’ and thanked British authorities for their response, saying they had been ‘very cooperative and very helpful’.

He added that ‘a lot of people are disturbed’ by the decision to grant bail to the five suspects.

Assistant Commissioner Taylor said the worries felt by people over a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford have been ‘heightened by the international commentary’.