British police have arrested five UK nationals on suspicion of a terrorist plot to attack an airbase in western England used by US B-1 bombers. The men, aged 23-25, are residents of London and were detained early Sunday near RAF Fairford. Counter-terrorism police described the operation as "hugely complex and large-scale" with "multiple new lines of enquiry." The men were found in three white vans in woods near the base.
The arrests were made after a local resident reported suspicious activity on Saturday night. The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she saw the vans parked near the base fence with their faces covered. She called the emergency services, and armed police arrived within 10-15 minutes. The men were initially detained under laws on possession of explosives and later arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.
Iranian threat was cited as a possible motive for the plot. In July, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the UK that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would be a legitimate target. The Iranian embassy in London has since rejected any involvement in the arrests. US President Donald Trump praised the joint operation, saying the US and UK had been investigating the men for a long time.
The UK government has not disclosed the location of the men's detention or what was found in the vans. Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot at the scene, and CNN teams heard what sounded like two controlled detonations. British Defense Minister Wes Streeting said he did not want to speculate about a hostile foreign state being behind the incident.
RAF Fairford has been used by the US Air Force for strikes on Iranian missile sites. In March, the UK government gave the US Air Force permission to use the base for operations against Iranian targets. The base's use by US bombers has been a point of contention with Iran, with Iranian media publishing a video of a group claiming to have reached the perimeter fence.
Security around the base has been tightened in recent days, with roadblocks and security checks in place. Local residents reported that security had been less evident since the Iran conflict began, but had increased recently. A US Air Force spokesperson said the unit "remains vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families."
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the men's motives and any potential connections to hostile foreign states. The UK government has praised the vigilance of local residents and the work of police and security services in foiling the alleged plot. The incident has highlighted the ongoing security concerns surrounding RAF Fairford and the use of the base by US military forces.
Key points
- Five UK nationals arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of terrorist plot
- Iranian threat cited as possible motive for plot
- Security around base tightened after incident
