British police arrested five men early on Sunday (27) near RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, western England, on suspicion of preparing an attack on the base — the US Air Force's main forward operating location for bombers in Europe.
According to Gloucestershire Constabulary, the case began with a call reporting suspicious vehicles heading towards the base. Armed officers reached the scene, in the Whelford area, at around 12.45am and made the five arrests. The men are held on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and also of preparation of a terrorist act, under section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
"Armed officers responded and subsequently arrested five men," said Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone in a force statement. He added that Counter Terrorism Policing — the UK's national counter-terrorism structure — is now leading the investigation, and urged the public to follow official channels rather than speculate.
A 400-metre cordon and 85 homes evacuated
Police sealed off a 400-metre perimeter around the vehicles so that the British Army's explosive ordnance disposal unit could examine them. About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution, and a nearby leisure centre was opened to receive residents. A hazardous area response team was also deployed.
Police declared a "major incident" but said they believed the situation was contained. The five men remained in custody late on Sunday, with the investigation still open.
What RAF Fairford is
Fairford hosts the US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and serves as the preferred forward operating location for American bombers in Europe, supporting missions and exercises throughout the year. It is also the home of the Royal International Air Tattoo, one of the world's largest military air shows.
That role places the base at the centre of tensions that had been building since mid-year. In July, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any base used for attacks on Iranian territory would become a "legitimate target", specifically naming the B-1 bombers that operate from Fairford. As of Sunday night, no British official had publicly linked the arrests to that warning.
It is worth recording what is still unknown: police have not released the ages or names of those detained, have not said what was found in the vehicles and have offered no theory on motive. In a British counter-terrorism investigation, suspects can be held for up to 14 days before being formally charged or released.
With information from Gloucestershire Constabulary, Axios and ITV News.
