Five men arrested near RAF Fairford in 'major incident' probed by counter-terrorism police
RAF Fairford has been used by the US Air Force to strike Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz since Britain granted approval for the operations in March
British police arrested five men on suspicion of explosives offences near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of homes in the nearby village of Whelford and a major security response. Army bomb disposal experts examined vehicles at the scene using a remote-operated robot, while armed police blocked access to the base's main gate.
According to Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone, in addition to the five arrested men, 85 households had to be evacuated after receiving an early morning call.
Police said they are working to establish the full nature of the incident and are working closely with partners in counter-terrorism policing. Materials were seized from three vans following the arrests and are being examined to determine how dangerous they are and whether they were capable of being used in an attack.
The operation was not intelligence-led, suggesting investigators had no advance knowledge of a potential plot. The broad circumstances of the arrests and their proximity to RAF Fairford have led investigators to consider whether the plot may have been sponsored by Iran or another state, though security sources said they were keeping an open mind.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being updated on the situation from Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is taking place, and canceled plans to participate in a football match in order to take calls on the matter. A government spokesperson said: "We are grateful to the emergency services who have acted quickly to detain several suspects and put measures in place to keep the community safe. It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing."
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the public could be reassured the situation was being handled. "I would like to thank all those emergency and specialist teams who have acted so swiftly regarding the incident in Gloucestershire," he said. "We can be reassured that this is being dealt with, and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and armed forces are on standby 24/7."
Police said they believe the incident is now contained.
RAF Fairford has been used to deploy USAF bombers since Britain's conflict with Iran began in February, after then Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized "defensive" US operations from UK bases. A USAF spokesperson said personnel at the base "remain vigilant" and declined to detail specific force protection measures, adding that the US "constantly assesses a variety of factors" to protect its installations, people and their families.
Security has reportedly also been increased at other US-linked bases in Britain, including Lakenheath and Mildenhall.