Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf has been mocked after calling for a “national security emergency” to be declared at RAF Fairford.
The party’s head of policy travelled to the area following the major incident which saw five men arrested near the US-operated military base on Sunday (27 September).
In a social media post this morning (Tuesday), Reform UK said: “Zia Yusuf calls for a national security emergency to be declared at RAF Fairford.”
But the intervention attracted widespread ridicule online as questions continued to emerge over what the five suspects were allegedly doing near the airbase.
Numerous people responding to Reform UK’s post referenced reports that the men may have been attempting to steal fuel, while others accused Mr Yusuf of jumping to conclusions.
One person wrote: “For an attempted fuel theft?”
Another said: “National Security Emergency to stop diesel thieving.”
A third wrote: “This post won’t age well…”
Another commenter said: “There’s a bandwagon, quick, jump on it!”
Wiltshire 999s reported on Monday (28 September) that two separate military sources claimed the men were thieves attempting to siphon fuel.
The sources said barrels and other equipment associated with stealing fuel were discovered in the three vans, which were reportedly positioned close to a diesel supply.
It has also been said that the vans did not contain explosives, despite the five men initially being arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.
The five British men, aged between 23 and 25 and from London, were later further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act as specialist counter-terrorism detectives took control of the investigation.
All five were released on police bail on Monday 28 September following what police described as “extensive interviews and enquiries”.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, stressed that their release did not mean the investigation was over.
The suspects remain subject to stringent conditions on their movements and contact with other people while detectives explore multiple lines of enquiry.
Police are continuing to consider every possible angle, including whether the incident could involve people knowingly or unknowingly acting on behalf of a foreign state.
The incident began shortly after 12.45am on Sunday when police received a report about three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford.
Armed officers responded and arrested the five men in the Whelford area.
A major emergency response followed, with around 85 households evacuated and military bomb disposal specialists examining the vehicles.
The investigation remains ongoing and police have not formally established what the men were allegedly intending to do.
