Five Men Arrested Near U.K. Air Base Used by U.S. Forces on Suspicion of Terror Offenses
Authorities are investigating a suspected terrorist plot after the arrests of five men near RAF Fairford, a base utilized by the U.S. Air Force.
British police have arrested five men near RAF Fairford, a military air base in Gloucestershire, England, that is used by the U.S. Air Force, on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing a terrorist act. The arrests occurred after police received a report early Sunday morning about three suspicious vehicles heading toward the base.
Armed officers responded to the incident and apprehended the men in the nearby village of Whelford. Counterterrorism police are now leading the investigation. As a precautionary measure, approximately 85 households in the vicinity were evacuated while authorities secured the area.
A 400-meter cordon was established around the vehicles, and the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was deployed to examine them. Police stated that the situation was believed to be contained and that the arrested men remain in custody.
RAF Fairford serves as a standby airfield and forward operating location for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command. The base has recently been used for launching B-52 and B-1 bombers, including missions targeting Iran. It is home to the 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron, identified by the U.S. Air Force as a “preferred bomber forward operating location in Europe.”
A representative for the U.S. Air Force confirmed that none of its personnel were involved in the incident but stated that the branch is coordinating closely with its UK partners to ensure the safety and security of military and local communities.