Five men suspected of preparing a terrorist act have been arrested in England near a Royal Air Force base used by the US military. The arrests were made on Saturday night, and the men are being questioned by British police. The base, located in Fairford, southwest England, is used by the US military for operations against Iran. A security cordon has been put in place around the base, and over 80 homes have been evacuated.
The men, who have not been named, were arrested after an investigation by the UK's antiterrorism police. They can be held for up to 14 days without charge under UK's antiterrorism laws. The police have not released details of the alleged plot, but it is believed to be linked to a threat against the US military base. The base has been used by the US military for operations in the region, including against Iran.
An eyewitness, a local farmer, reported seeing three suspicious vehicles heading towards the base on Saturday night. She called the police after seeing a group of masked men. The farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC that she had seen something unusual and had immediately contacted the police. She criticized the response of the police, saying that her call had not been answered.
The UK's Defense Minister, Wes Streeting, praised the farmer's quick thinking but said that she had only seen part of the incident. The police are investigating whether the alleged plot was linked to a foreign state. The UK has previously accused Iran and Russia of using intermediaries to carry out activities on British soil.
The US President, Donald Trump, has commented on the arrests, saying that the US knew a lot about the suspects and that they would be hearing more about them soon. Trump also said that the US had been working with the British to prevent the attack. The incident has raised concerns about the security of US military bases in the UK.
The base in Fairford has been used by the US military for operations against Iran, including in March when the UK allowed the US to use the base for defensive operations against Iran. The base has also been used in the past for operations in the region, including during the Gulf War and the Iraq War.
The Iranian government has denied any involvement in the alleged plot. The incident is being investigated by the UK's antiterrorism police, who are working to determine the extent of the plot and whether any foreign state was involved.
Key points
- The five men arrested are suspected of preparing a terrorist act near a US military base in England.
- The base in Fairford has been used by the US military for operations against Iran.
- The UK's antiterrorism police are investigating the alleged plot, with assistance from the US.
