Published28 September 2026, 01:30 BST
Almost every front page is dominated by what the Telegraph suggests is an "Iran link to RAF bomb plot". It reports five men have been arrested for "terror and explosive offences" after three suspicious vans were reported travelling towards RAF Fairford. Counter terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the incident at the base, according to the paper. It says that in July, Iran threatened to attack the base, on the basis that anywhere used to launch strikes on Iran was a "legitimate target".
Following the incident on Sunday morning, the paper reports that RAF Fairford is on its highest state of alert, and RAF Lakenheath, which also hosts US troops, has had its threat level increased.
The Sun adds that it was a "hero farmer" who thwarted the potential attack, after she spotted people in balaclavas near the base on her way home from a party in the early hours of Sunday morning.
"999 call foils 'terror plot'" reads the Mirror, which says the "heroic" woman's 00:45 call to police could have saved a lot of lives. Police are probing any links to Iran, the paper says.
The Daily Mail declares "'Iran bomb plot' at RAF base foiled by farmer's 999 call". The paper says RAF Fairford has been used by US military to launch airstrikes against Iran, and quotes US President Donald Trump, who said the suspects "were looking to do big damage to our fort".
The US president is also quoted in the headline of the Daily Star, which says: "They were looking to do big damage".
The Daily Express is one of many papers that carries a photograph it says shows the five men being arrested near the RAF base. The paper reports bomb disposal teams have examined devices found across three vans, and adds that some 85 families from nearby homes have been evacuated.
The same image is front and centre of the Times, which reports the "apparently sophisticated nature of the plot" caught police and security services by surprise. Although intelligence has led to increased security at military bases across the UK, the paper writes, police only launched a "last-minute" intervention at RAF Fairford after receiving the 999 call in the early hours of Sunday morning. Sources confirmed to the paper that the arrests were neither "pre-planned nor intelligence-led".
"Let's be Apping you" says the Metro, which suggests that the suspected "terror plot" was foiled by a village WhatsApp group.
The i Paper says Andy Burnham has signalled that major tax hikes may be required to fund a free NHS-style National Care Service in England. The prime minister has vowed to put free social care in Labour's next general election manifesto, the paper says, calling it a "major political gamble" from Burnham. Labour insiders have told the outlet that Burnham could present free social care as part of a "grand bargain" that includes ditching the state pension triple lock.
Private equity has become an important target on the campaign trail for the US midterms, says the Financial Times. The paper has analysed campaign language in competitive congressional races over the past decade, and found that negative comments about private equity and corporate landlords have risen "sharply" this year.
Many of the front pages feature a photograph of what the Daily Mail describes as five "shirtless terror suspects", external as they were being arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The Daily Telegraph says counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Iran was behind a suspected bomb plot, external at the base, while the Daily Star notes that the US flew bombing raids against Iran, external from Fairford.
The Sun says it's chilling that "a massive terror attack" was thwarted by the quick thinking of a "hero farmer,", external who spotted the suspects on the way back from a party.
The Times says the pensions "triple lock" could be axed, external to fund free social care for elderly people in England. The i Paper believes Andy Burnham has signalled that major tax hikes could be required, external to pay for his new National Care Service.
The Sun says it will mean "another raid on the pay packets or savings of millions of hard-working families, already being squeezed from every direction.", external The Daily Express says the prime minister has recognised the urgent need, external to address one of the greatest policy failures of modern times – but adds that we should all be fearful after he admitted "nothing is off the table."
The Guardian describes the stand-off between unionists and nationalists in Portadown as a "ghost from the past,", external saying the decision to allow an Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road has ignited old tensions. The Daily Mail agrees that the tense stand-off threatens to return Northern Ireland to its embittered past., external
The Daily Mirror says Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has told a panel at the Labour conference that tech firms could be exempt from the social media ban, external for under-16s if they innovate to make their platforms safe. The paper says she told the panel it would be up to the companies to act if they wanted to get themselves off the banned list.
منبع: بی بی سی
