The five men arrested by UK police on suspicion of plotting to bomb the Fairford air base in England have been identified as UK citizens and permanent residents of London, law enforcement officials have said, Sky News reports.

The alleged plot to bomb the aforesaid air base, which is home to US strategic bombers, has become the subject of a major counterterrorism investigation. The origins and possible motives for the plot, however, remain unclear.

British defense secretary Wes Streeting said it was too early to speculate on Iran's involvement in the plot. Asked by Sky News about Tehran's possible role, he said it would be short-sighted to speculate on the motives of those arrested.

Five men were arrested on Sunday in Gloucestershire, not far from the Fairford air base. Police said they were suspected of plotting an explosion. Currently, 12 B-1B Lancer strategic bombers remain at this air base, according to the source.

US President Donald Trump had said that UK and American services had been following the suspects for a long time before their arrest. According to him, the men were planning to cause significant damage to the aforesaid air base, and cooperation with UK authorities made it possible to prevent a possible attack.