British counter-terrorism police are questioning five men arrested near RAF Fairford in western England over suspected explosives and terrorism offences. The five men, all British nationals in their mid-20s who live in London, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday. They were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and were subsequently detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The arrests were made after police received a report about three large white vans travelling towards the military airfield in Gloucestershire. Police established a 400-metre cordon around the vans while bomb disposal specialists examined them. Residents in 85 nearby homes were evacuated as armed officers secured the area. The incident prompted a major security operation around the base.
RAF Fairford has become strategically significant because the British government authorised the US to use bombers based there to strike Iranian missile sites involved in attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had previously warned Britain against allowing US bombers to operate from the base, saying any facility used to launch attacks would be considered a legitimate target.
Counter Terrorism Policing said investigators were still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the men’s knowledge and possible motivation. Defence Minister Wes Streeting said he would not speculate while the investigation remained ongoing. A source familiar with the investigation reportedly said an Iranian-linked motive was being considered the most likely possibility.
US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been looking to do “big damage” and said British and US authorities had been investigating them. However, British police have not confirmed Trump’s description of the investigation or publicly linked the suspects to any particular organisation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being updated on the incident, while the investigation remains ongoing.
A local farmer who alerted police after seeing what she described as “hooded and masked men” running into nearby fields said she believed her emergency call had helped prevent whatever action the group may have been planning. Security was also increased at other US military bases in Britain, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.
No charges had been announced against the five men at the time of the latest police update. The incident highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of cooperation between British and US authorities to prevent attacks. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to establish the full circumstances of the activity of those arrested.
Key points
- Five men arrested near RAF Fairford airbase in western England over suspected explosives and terrorism offences.
- The airbase is used by the US for strikes against Iran, and an Iranian-linked motive is being considered.
- The investigation is ongoing, and police have not publicly established a motive or linked the suspects to any particular organisation.
