British counterterrorism police have arrested five men near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, after reports of three suspicious vehicles heading toward the airfield. Gloucestershire Police received a call around 12:45 a.m. Sunday about the vehicles, and armed officers subsequently detained the men in the village of Whelford on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act.
The RAF Fairford arrests triggered a major incident declaration, with a 400-meter cordon placed around the vehicles and roughly 85 households evacuated as a precaution. Army explosive ordnance disposal experts were seen examining the vehicles, with aerial footage showing a bomb disposal robot operating between three white vans. Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation. “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, the Met’s counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator.
RAF Fairford is a British base operated by the US Air Force and hosts the headquarters of the 501st Combat Support Wing. It has been used by American B-1 and B-52 bombers for strikes on Iranian missile sites since the UK government authorized the use of British bases for “defensive” operations earlier this year. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned in July that any base used in strikes would be considered a legitimate target. A US Air Force spokesperson said personnel would “remain vigilant” following the arrests.
