Five arrested near RAF Fairford over suspected terror plot, later bailed
Five British nationals arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act were released on bail while remaining under investigation. Left-leaning outlets focus on the bail decision; the right-leaning blog focuses on alleged response failures.
Updated (version 2). Rewritten with the latest reporting. Previously: “Five arrested near RAF Fairford over suspected terror plot, then bailed”.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Five British nationals were arrested near RAF Fairford, an air base in Gloucestershire, on Sunday 27 September. The New York TimesLC “the five British nationals arrested near R.A.F. Fairford on Sunday” Read at The New York Times ↗ Counterterrorism police later said they were being released on bail but remained under investigation. The New York TimesLC “were being released on bail but remained under investigation” Read at The New York Times ↗ CBS News reported that British authorities defended the decision to let the group of young men go free while investigators look into a suspected terror plot. CBS NewsLC “British authorities defended their decision to let a group of young men go free” Read at CBS News ↗
CBS described the base as one used by the US military in its war against Iran. CBS NewsLC “an air base there that was used by the U.S. military in its war against Iran” Read at CBS News ↗ Hot Air, quoting Telegraph reporting, said a local farmer saw three white vans blocking a lane and masked men scattering towards the base, and that she called 999 after an MoD Police line rang out unanswered. Hot AirR ““I immediately called the MoD [Ministry of Defence] Police, the phone rang out and they didn’t answer,” she said, adding that she then phoned 999.” Read at Hot Air ↗ The farmer questioned why police said they had responded to calls at 12.45am when she called almost an hour later. Hot AirR “If this is the case, why did they not know they were in Whelford when I called almost an hour later?” Read at Hot Air ↗
Hot Air also reported that evacuated villagers said police took more than four hours to move them, and that around 85 homes remained evacuated. Hot AirR “police took more than four hours to evacuate them, leaving the residents as “sitting ducks””“around 85 homes near RAF Fairford remain evacuated” Read at Hot Air ↗ Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC the farmer had only "a partial picture" of events, according to Hot Air's account. Hot AirR “has only ''a partial picture'' of events” Read at Hot Air ↗ The coverage does not say what evidence police hold or why bail was granted. The New York TimesLC “remained under investigation” Read at The New York Times ↗ CBS NewsLC “even as investigators look into a suspected terror plot” Read at CBS News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Focuses on the release of the suspects on bail and the questions and official defence that followed.
- Emphasis
- The bail decision, that suspects remain under investigation, and the base's US military use.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the farmer's account, the unanswered MoD Police line or evacuation complaints.
- For example
-
“Release of Suspects in U.K. Prompts New Questions Over Possible Terror Plot at RAF Fairford Base” — The New York Times
“British authorities defend decision to let terror suspects go on bail” — CBS News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A blog post that treats the event as a foiled plot and centres on security lapses and government failings, in a mocking, partisan tone.
- Emphasis
- The farmer's account, the unanswered MoD Police line, the timeline gap, evacuation delays and Streeting's response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the bail release or authorities' defence of it in the text read.
- Charged language
- “ham-fisted”“Helpful regime media”“foiled terrorist attack”“sitting ducks”
What every side reports
- Five British nationals were arrested near RAF Fairford.
- They were released on bail but remain under investigation.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the official response was adequate
- Left
- NYT and CBS report that authorities defended releasing the suspects on bail and that the release raises questions.
- Centre
- No centre outlet covered the story.
- Right
- Hot Air says the public is demanding answers over an unanswered MoD Police line, the timing of police calls and slow evacuations, and calls the government's handling "ham-fisted".
-
Five British nationals arrested near RAF Fairford were released on bail but remain under investigation.
Reported- Reports 3
- CBS News, The New York Times, Hot Air
Left2 articles
-
Release of Suspects in U.K. Prompts New Questions Over Possible Terror Plot at RAF Fairford Base
Neutral Reports the bail release of the five suspects and says it raises new questions.
-
British authorities defend decision to let terror suspects go on bail
Neutral Video report on British authorities defending the decision to bail the suspects.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Hot AirR ·
RAF Fairford Plot, Day 2: Public Demanding Answers - Officials, Media Channel Norm MacDonald UPDATE
Critical Opinionated blog post casting the incident as a foiled plot and the British government's response as failing.
- 28 Sep 15:30 First Hot AirR RAF Fairford Plot, Day 2: Public Demanding Answers - Officials, Media Channel Norm MacDonald UPDATE
- 28 Sep 21:05 +5h 35m The New York TimesLC Release of Suspects in U.K. Prompts New Questions Over Possible Terror Plot at RAF Fairford Base
- 30 Sep 00:36 +33h 6m CBS NewsLC British authorities defend decision to let terror suspects go on bail
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.