Police are questioning five men arrested near RAF Fairford. No motive or Iran link has been publicly confirmed.
British counterterrorism police are questioning five men arrested early Sunday near RAF Fairford, an air base in western England used by U.S. forces during the war with Iran. Police said they received a report around 12:45 a.m. of three suspicious vehicles heading toward the base. The men were first arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and were later also arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Investigators have not named the men or disclosed their nationalities.
Gloucestershire Police declared a major incident and evacuated about 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford as a precaution, setting up a cordon of about 400 meters. Army explosive ordnance disposal teams examined three vehicles, and aerial footage broadcast by Sky News appeared to show a bomb disposal robot working between three white vans. Under the Terrorism Act, suspects can be held for up to 14 days before charge. Prime Minister Andy Burnham thanked emergency services and residents and urged the public not to speculate, and the U.S. Embassy in London advised Americans in Britain to be mindful of personal security.
Officials have not said what the men are suspected of planning. Investigators are examining whether the incident has a link to Iran, but no connection has been confirmed. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting declined to discuss motives during a live investigation, though he said Iran and its proxies seek to harm Britain. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in plots in the UK. President Donald Trump said the suspects had intended to cause major damage and had been under surveillance by British and U.S. authorities. Police said the arrests followed a late-night call, and Reuters reported that a local farmer said she alerted police. These accounts have not been reconciled.
RAF Fairford is owned by the UK and operated by the U.S. Air Force, and B-1 and B-52 bombers used in the Iran conflict have flown from it. Iran has said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target, and British security officials have warned that Iran-linked proxies have been behind arson and sabotage attempts in the UK. The U.S. Air Force said personnel at the base remain vigilant and declined to discuss specific security measures.
This report is based on information from AP, Reuters, CNN, NBC News, ABC News, NPR, Al Jazeera, AFP, Euronews and ITV News.