Farmer's Call Foils Alleged Iranian Bomb Plot at UK Air Base Used by US
Five men arrested near RAF Fairford after a farmer alerted police to suspicious vans carrying explosives.
A suspected Iranian plot to attack a British air base used by U.S. bombers was thwarted early Sunday morning after a farmer's emergency call led to the arrest of five men carrying explosives. The men were found in three vans approximately 350 yards from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the incident, stating, "They were looking to do big damage to our fort." He praised the joint efforts between U.S. and British authorities in stopping the plot. "Working with the British worked out great," Trump said. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
Iran's Revolutionary Guard had previously warned in July that any base used for air strikes against the regime would be considered a legitimate target. The Iranian ambassador had stated that allowing American bombers to launch from Fairford had become "an important matter for our self–defence."
Police evacuated 85 households surrounding the base, which serves as the U.S. Air Force's command outpost for Europe, due to fears that the vehicles contained explosives. The Army's explosive ordnance disposal team spent several hours examining the three vans.
The alert was raised by a local farmer who noticed three vans blocking a road near the base as she was driving home. She reported seeing men in balaclavas and hooded tops scattering towards the base. The farmer contacted police at 12:45 a.m., and authorities arrived on the scene within 15 minutes. The five suspects were arrested shortly after.
Security bosses deployed Army bomb experts and the SAS to the scene. The arrested men were pictured shirtless on the road while officers conducted a search, suspecting they might be wearing suicide vests. They were initially held under the Explosives Act before being arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.
Authorities are investigating the possibility of involvement from other hostile states or extremist groups, including Al Qaeda and Islamic State. The incident has also drawn criticism regarding diplomatic engagement with Iran, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat questioning recent meetings between British officials and Iranian envoys.
Counter Terrorism Policing stated that the investigation is in its early stages, with all five men remaining in custody. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood thanked the emergency services for their swift response, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham affirmed the government's commitment to public safety.