Five men have been arrested near RAF Fairford in southwestern England on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, prompting a major security operation around the military base used by US forces during the war with Iran.
British police were alerted at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday after three suspicious vehicles were reportedly seen travelling toward the air base. Armed officers responded and arrested the five men in the nearby village of Whelford. They were initially detained over suspected offences under the Explosives Act before being arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
RAF Fairford is a UK-owned facility operated by the US under a longstanding agreement. The base has been used by American bombers involved in operations against Iranian missile sites since the conflict began in February.
The arrests triggered a large emergency response. Police established a 400-metre cordon around the suspicious vehicles, while bomb disposal specialists and military personnel examined them. Authorities also evacuated about 85 households in Whelford as a precaution.
Images from the scene showed three white trucks being examined by a bomb-disposal robot, although authorities have not publicly confirmed what was inside the vehicles or whether all three were connected to the suspected plot.
The Metropolitan Police, which leads counterterrorism investigations in Britain, said the investigation remains at an early stage and that the five men remain in custody. Authorities have not publicly released their identities or nationalities.
Police have not established publicly whether the incident was connected to Iran. Authorities are investigating possible links, but officials have urged people not to speculate while the inquiry continues.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding US military facilities in Britain following the escalation of the Iran conflict. RAF Fairford has particular strategic importance because it supports US bomber operations and hosts elements of the US Air Force presence in Europe.
US military officials said personnel at the base remained vigilant but declined to discuss specific security measures. US European Command said it would take appropriate steps to protect American service members, civilians, contractors and their families across Europe.
British authorities stressed that the investigation is ongoing. The arrests themselves do not establish that a terrorist attack was successfully planned or that the suspects will ultimately face charges.
The immediate focus remains on examining the vehicles, determining the circumstances surrounding their presence near RAF Fairford and establishing whether the suspects were preparing an attack.
The case puts renewed attention on security around military facilities being used in the Iran conflict, while investigators work to determine whether the incident was an isolated threat or part of a wider operation.
