Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected RAF Fairford terror plot after five men were arrested and suspected explosive devices were discovered in three vans close to the Gloucestershire airbase used by the US military.
The men were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being arrested again on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The arrests followed a late-night 999 call from a member of the public who reported seeing three suspicious vans apparently travelling towards RAF Fairford.
Police responded to the report in the early hours of Sunday and arrested five men in the Whelford area, close to the military installation.
RAF Fairford Explosives Found in Three Vans
Investigators examining the vehicles found materials that were initially considered consistent with improvised explosive devices, according to reports.
Bomb disposal teams were deployed to the area, with remote-controlled robots used to examine the contents of the three vans.
Authorities established a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles while specialist teams assessed whether the suspected devices were viable.
The incident also resulted in the evacuation of residents from 85 households in the nearby Cotswolds village of Whelford.
Those residents were taken to Cirencester leisure centre while emergency services continued their operation near the airbase.
Tests were still being conducted to establish the nature and viability of the suspected explosive devices as the investigation continued.
Police Statement on Five Arrests
Counter-terrorism police said they received the emergency call at about 12.45am on Sunday, September 27, concerning three suspicious vehicles apparently heading towards the airbase.
The force said armed officers subsequently attended the Whelford area and arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.
The men were later arrested again on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly established the motive behind the suspected plot.
The Guardian reported that investigators were examining a possible connection to Iran, although other explanations, including a jihadist or different motive, had not been ruled out.
Iran Link Under Investigation
The investigation comes against the backdrop of continuing conflict between the United States and Iran and previous warnings concerning RAF Fairford.
The base has been used for US military operations, including missions involving heavy bombers, and Iranian officials previously warned that bases used for attacks against Iranian territory could be considered legitimate targets.
In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly warned that any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would be regarded as a legitimate target for its forces.
That warning is one factor investigators and government officials are considering as they examine whether there was any Iranian involvement in the incident.
However, no Iranian involvement has been established publicly, and investigators are continuing to examine alternative explanations.
Any confirmed foreign connection would significantly affect the wider security implications of the incident.
The investigation is also examining whether any overseas organisation or individual had a role in the alleged plot.
Trump Says Suspects Were Under Surveillance
US President Donald Trump also commented on the arrests, claiming that the suspects had been under observation for a considerable period.
Trump said the men “were looking to do big damage” and praised cooperation between British and American authorities.
“It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job,” Trump said.
However, reports indicated that the operation was triggered by a member of the public rather than an intelligence-led intervention.
According to information cited by The Guardian, investigators had not been aware of a potential plot before the suspicious vehicles were reported.
That distinction remains significant as authorities investigate how the suspects reached the area and whether they were acting as part of a wider organisation.
RAF Fairford Used by US Military
RAF Fairford has particular strategic importance because of its long runway and ability to accommodate large US military aircraft.
The runway extends for almost two miles and has been reinforced to support heavy bombers, including B-1 and B-52 aircraft.
The United States has used the base for operations connected with the conflict involving Iran.
Earlier in the year, four American bombers arrived at RAF Fairford after the UK government permitted US forces to use British bases for what were described as specific defensive operations.
The aircraft are capable of carrying large weapons payloads, including bunker-busting bombs.
The base’s role has prompted protests in the surrounding area, particularly over the British government’s decision to permit US forces to operate from the installation.
Whelford Residents Describe Heightened Tensions
Residents evacuated during the incident described increased security activity around the base in recent weeks.
Jason, a Whelford resident who declined to give his surname, said there had been “heightened tensions recently around the base”.
He said residents were aware of the presence of US military personnel but generally felt safe in the area.
“It always feels pretty safe. Some residents have seen increased police patrols,” he said.
Emergency services established a significant response operation in the surrounding communities, with police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines, temporary tents and a mobile command unit deployed.
Fairford Youth Football Club, located about 1.5 miles northwest of Whelford, was also used as a temporary operational base.
Richard Ocone, assistant chief constable with Gloucestershire Constabulary, acknowledged the disruption caused by the incident and said officers were working to allow evacuated residents to return home as quickly as possible.
“We appreciate the disruption this will have caused and would like to reassure them we are working as quickly as we can to get them back in their properties,” Ocone said.
Investigation Into Suspected Terror Plot Continues
The RAF Fairford terror plot investigation remains ongoing, with police examining the explosives, vehicles, movements of the suspects and any possible links to organisations or individuals outside Britain.
The UK’s national terrorism threat level remains at severe, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the suspected explosives were capable of detonating, nor have they established the motive behind the arrests.
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The investigation is therefore continuing on several fronts as counter-terrorism officers and security agencies work to determine why the three vans were travelling towards the airbase and whether the suspects intended to carry out an attack.
The incident has also raised questions about security around RAF Fairford, particularly given the base’s role in US military operations and previous warnings from Iran.
For residents of Whelford and surrounding communities, the immediate priority remains returning to their homes after the large-scale emergency response.
The five men remain at the centre of the investigation, while authorities continue to assess whether the incident was an isolated criminal operation or part of a wider terrorist or foreign-linked activity.
