Farmer Hailed as Hero After Foiling Alleged Terror Plot Near RAF Fairford
A quick-thinking farmer's suspicion about three vans led to the arrest of five men near a U.S. Air Force base in Gloucestershire, England.
A farmer is being hailed as a hero after her actions reportedly foiled a potential terrorist attack near RAF Fairford, a U.S. Air Force base in Gloucestershire, England. The farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, was driving home from a party in the early hours of the morning when she encountered three white vans blocking a road in the quiet village of Whelford.
Suspicious of a mobile number on one of the vans, which appeared to be a digit short, she turned her car around. She then observed several men in balaclavas fleeing into nearby trees and fields. The farmer immediately drove away and contacted the police, also alerting her local WhatsApp group to secure their homes.
Minutes later, armed police arrived in Whelford, a village of about 100 residents, and arrested five men. Dramatic images from the scene showed the shirtless men with their hands cuffed behind their backs. The farmer told reporters that she believed her headlights startled the individuals, causing them to flee. She also stated that she saw more than five suspects, despite only five arrests being made, and expressed concern that security forces might have missed other individuals.
The incident occurred less than a mile from RAF Fairford, which is used by the U.S. Air Force for operations and has reportedly been on high alert due to credible threats. The farmer noted that the vans seemed suspicious due to fake-looking lettering and a truncated phone number. One van was labeled "FUEL 2YOU" with an incomplete number.
A 400-meter cordon was established around the vans, which appeared to contain barrels. Bomb disposal robots were used to examine the vehicles. Local residents reported being woken by a helicopter in the early hours of the morning, followed by police knocking on their doors. Many were evacuated from their homes in their pajamas and taken to Cirencester Leisure Centre.
One resident described the farmer as a hero, stating she had "almost certainly prevented a terror attack." The farmer expressed her belief that security forces should have been more vigilant, given the airbase's high alert status.
According to reports, the farmer initially attempted to contact the airbase police, but received no answer, prompting her to call the emergency number 999. The farmer also mentioned that the men appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent and were wearing masks or balaclavas as they scattered.
Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, Maggie Blyth, indicated that the force is not currently searching for additional suspects in connection with the incident. The farmer stated she was "pretty lucky" to have had a brush with the individuals and potentially foiled a plot, adding that she hoped "the police sort themselves out and this doesn't happen to us again."