British counter-terrorism police have arrested five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act following an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, an air base used by the U.S. military.
The incident began in the early hours of Sunday, September 27, when police received a report at around 12:45 a.m. about three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling towards the air base. Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the nearby village of Whelford.
The men were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under the U.K. Terrorism Act. Police have not publicly disclosed their identities, nationalities or a possible motive.
Authorities established a 400-metre cordon around the three vehicles while the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team examined them. Around 85 households in Whelford were evacuated as a precaution and residents were moved to a nearby leisure centre while the investigation continued.
RAF Fairford is a U.K.-owned facility operated by the U.S. under a long-standing agreement and has been used by American military aircraft during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The location has therefore been subject to heightened security measures.
Counter-terrorism officers are now leading the investigation and are examining the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and the suspects. Reports have indicated that authorities are also examining whether there could be a connection to Iran, but police have not established a link or publicly identified the source or motive behind the suspected plot.
U.K. officials have urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work as the inquiry remains at an early stage. The five men remain in custody while police continue examining the vehicles and gathering evidence.
The incident has prompted a significant security response around RAF Fairford, with armed police and specialist bomb disposal teams deployed in the area. Authorities have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that further details will depend on its findings.