Armed Guards Warned Divers Away From RAF Fairford Amid 'Live Incident' Hours Before Terror Plot Arrests
Family playing cricket ordered to leave airbase perimeter due to security concerns, preceding a major police operation and arrests of five men on suspicion of terror offenses.
Armed guards ordered a family playing cricket to leave the perimeter of RAF Fairford due to a 'live incident' on Saturday afternoon, eight hours before five men were arrested in connection with a suspected terror plot. The warning was issued around 4:30 p.m. as security at the U.S.-linked airbase was heightened following intelligence suggesting a possible attack.
A resident involved in the cricket game told The Sun that two guards approached the fence with firearms and instructed them to leave, stating, "You can't be here. There is a live incident going on. It's not safe." This account raises questions about the timing of security awareness at the base.
The alert came more than eight hours before police received a 999 call at 12:45 a.m. on Sunday. A woman in the nearby village of Whelford reported seeing masked men and three suspicious vans, which triggered a large armed police response.
Following the report, five men, described as British nationals in their twenties from London, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses and the preparation of a terrorist act. Counter Terrorism Policing later confirmed that the vehicles underwent extensive examination with military and forensic support. No improvised explosive devices were found, though a quantity of petrol was recovered.
Residents in nearby Dunfield also reported hearing a public-address announcement inside the base on Saturday evening, followed by the apparent departure of staff. One resident expressed frustration and fear regarding the lack of communication from the base and UK authorities, emphasizing the proximity of the base to their community.
It is understood that families connected to the base were asked to leave during the emergency and have since been permitted to return only to collect belongings. The events unfolded amidst heightened security concerns around RAF Fairford, which has been utilized by U.S. forces in military operations and was considered a potential target amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
US President Donald Trump has stated that American authorities had been monitoring the suspects for a considerable period, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested potential foreign involvement. British counter-terrorism officials are reportedly keeping an open mind and investigating all possible angles, including foreign-state involvement.
The initial five suspects were released on police bail, but they remain under investigation and are subject to strict conditions. The investigation expanded when a sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested in Westminster on Thursday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Searches were conducted at two properties in the area. This individual was also released on police bail, and the investigation into the events near RAF Fairford continues.
Approximately 85 households in Whelford were evacuated during the initial police operation, and a significant cordon was established while bomb disposal experts examined the three vans. Publicly, authorities have not confirmed whether the suspects were planning an attack on RAF Fairford or their specific intentions for the recovered petrol.