Police defend decision to release RAF Fairford suspects on bail as two men charged with National Security Act offences

Counter terror police have defended their decision to release RAF Fairford suspects on bail while providing an update on the case. This morning, Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, were charged after an investigation into the suspected terror plot. The two men will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today. Earlier in the investigation, police made a number of arrests in the days after the foiled plot was reported to authorities. Seven men arrested in connection with the suspected terror plot were released on bail before police made additional arrests. The force received criticism for its decision to release the men, most notably from Donald Trump. After the first five men were released on bail, the US President said he was "surprised" the suspects were released on bail, adding he "wouldn't have done that". "Don't let them out on bail... Is it cashless bail like us?" the US Commander-in-Chief asked. "I am surprised they released them, I would not have done that." Defending the move outside Scotland Yard this afternoon, Commissioner Laurence Taylor said his team's investigation might appear "illogical" at times, but provided assurances that there was a rationale. He said: "We know that decisions made during our investigations can sometimes appear illogical to those on the outside, but I want to make it very clear that there will always be a good reason or rationale behind them. "We will always ensure that should we identify any ongoing threat, we will manage that as part of the investigation. "Unlike our adversaries, our tactics vary and may not always be obvious to everyone. RAF FAIRFORD LATEST: "In this case, this decision-making has led to swifter progress, better evidence, and ultimately us securing the charges that I have announced today in sensitive investigations like this. "It can take time to convert intelligence into evidence. And this is what scores of my officers and staff have been doing over the last few weeks." The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing added that investigations into proxies "take time to establish what those individuals knew about the ambition behind the tasking". He explained: "Sometimes individuals can have no knowledge at all, or even partial knowledge of what they're being asked to do on behalf of foreign states. "Sometimes they have full knowledge. This is not a theoretical threat. This is something we're responding to every day at counter-terrorism policing, particularly in the case of Iran." Three suspicious vehicles were seen near the US-operated airbase in Gloucestershire on September 27, leading to a major incident being declared. Residents living in nearby Whelford were evacuated from the area near the site of the airbase, used by the United States Air Force (USAF) to launch defensive airstrikes on the Islamic Republic. The President said his air force removed its bombers from RAF Fairford because of "some threats" several weeks after the plot was foiled. Around 12 B-1 Lancer bombers were removed from the base despite No10 insisting the area was safe. Follow related topics: