Iran just got blamed for a spy plot at a British airbase

Police just got more time to question two men over a suspected Iran spy plot at RAF Fairford.

A court granted a warrant of further detention a few hours ago. So now the two men can be held without charge until 27 October.

Here's who they are.

One is a 24-year-old British national. The other is a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national.

Neither has been named. Neither has been charged.

So what happened?

They were re-arrested two days ago, on 20 October. Police suspect them of helping Iran's foreign intelligence service, under the National Security Act.

And here's the thing. This is not their first arrest.

Both men were arrested once already, over three weeks ago. Both were released on bail. Now they are back in custody.

The 24-year-old was first arrested on 27 September, near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The 25-year-old was first arrested on 1 October, in Westminster.

So how big is this investigation? Well, seven men have now been arrested in total.

Five of them remain on police bail. Nobody has been charged.

Now the timing. This all started three weeks ago.

A major incident was declared near RAF Fairford. About 85 households were evacuated.

Five men were arrested that day. Police suspected preparing a terrorist act, and explosives offences.

Police later said they found petrol in vans at the scene. No weapons. No explosives.

Then a seventh man, 22 years old and British, was arrested on 6 October in Westminster. He was released on bail too.

So why does RAF Fairford matter?

The base has launched strikes on Iran during this year's war. After the first incident, the United States moved its long-range bombers out. As of two days ago, none had come back.