UK Police Arrest Five Men Near RAF Fairford in Terror Probe

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and offences under the Explosives Act after three suspicious vehicles were reported travelling towards RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, triggering a major security operation around one of the United Kingdom’s most important military air bases.

The incident unfolded at around 12:45 a.m. BST on Sunday, when police received reports of the vehicles approaching the Royal Air Force station, which is operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). Authorities immediately declared a major incident, deployed specialist emergency teams and evacuated dozens of residents from the nearby village of Whelford as officers secured the area.

Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) is leading the investigation alongside Gloucestershire Police, while the British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was sent to examine the vehicles near the base. A 400-metre security cordon remains in place, with bomb disposal experts and hazardous area response teams participating in the operation.

Police said the five men were initially arrested by Gloucestershire Police on suspicion of explosives offences before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. As of Sunday evening, all five remained in custody while detectives continued forensic examinations and interviews.

Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said the investigation was still in its early stages and stressed that any formal declaration of a terrorist incident would be made by Counter Terrorism Policing rather than the local force.

Speaking at a late-night news conference, Blyth said officers currently believed the situation was contained and indicated that investigators were not actively searching for additional suspects, although enquiries remain ongoing.

The emergency response led to the evacuation of approximately 85 households in Whelford, with residents told they would not be allowed to return home overnight. Cotswold District Council arranged temporary accommodation for those unable to stay with relatives or friends.

Several residents described dramatic scenes as armed police moved through the village during the early hours of Sunday.

Julian Tudsbury said officers knocked on his door shortly after 7:00 a.m., ordering his family to leave immediately.

“There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate; there’s been a major incident,” he told the BBC.

Another resident, who identified himself only as Jeff, said he awoke around 2:00 a.m. after hearing shouting outside.

“I looked out the window and saw men being held by armed police. It was surreal,” he recalled.

Aerial footage from the scene showed what appeared to be a remote-controlled robot approaching stationary white vans in a wooded area close to the base. Police have not confirmed whether the robot formed part of the official bomb disposal operation, and investigators have not released details of what was found inside the vehicles.

An image circulating online that purportedly showed the arrest of the five men near Crash Gate 6A was analysed by BBC Verify, which geolocated the photograph to Whelford, approximately 350 metres from runway access. While the BBC said it could not verify the original source of the image, it concluded that the location appeared authentic.

RAF Fairford has long served as a critical hub for joint UK-US military operations and has recently been used by American warplanes as a staging post for defensive strikes linked to tensions involving Iran. Its strategic role has made the base a highly protected defence installation and a key element of NATO’s operational infrastructure.

Following Sunday’s incident, the US Department of Defense raised the threat level at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, home to the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, to its second-highest security category. A USAF spokesperson said personnel remained vigilant but declined to discuss specific force protection measures.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was receiving regular updates on what he described as a deeply concerning incident for local residents, urging the public not to speculate while investigators established the facts.

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed he had spoken with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, as British and American authorities coordinated their response to the security operation.

US President Donald Trump also commented on the arrests, claiming the suspects had been “looking to do big damage” and suggesting American authorities had monitored them for an extended period. His remarks reflect the US president’s account of the incident, while the criminal investigation in the UK remains ongoing.

The investigation now enters a critical phase as counter-terrorism officers determine the suspects’ intentions, examine the recovered vehicles and establish whether the alleged plot posed an immediate threat to RAF Fairford or the wider public. The outcome is likely to shape future security measures around Britain’s strategic military installations, particularly those hosting US forces amid heightened international tensions.