Mystery over UK airbase scare as police find 'quantity of petrol' but no explosives

A UK probe into a suspected bomb plot at an airbase used by the United States was mired in confusion Tuesday, as police said no explosives but a "quantity of petrol" was found in vehicles seized nearby. Police were called to the Royal Air Force Fairford base in southwest England on Sunday after a resident saw several vans "acting suspiciously", triggering an evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a "major incident". "Those vehicles have been subject to extensive examination ... and we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found. However, a quantity of petrol was recovered," National Counter Terrorism Policing head Laurence Taylor said. There have been huge questions around the incident after five London-based Britons were released on bail Monday after being arrested early Sunday on explosives and terror offences, with Washington criticising their release. "I understand why this development will have come as a surprise to many, but I'd like to reiterate that it was an investigative decision," Taylor added, after US President Donald Trump said he was "surprised" by the decision. Read moreTrump 'surprised' UK granted bail to suspects in alleged airbase...