Robot Blasts Open Van Doors in UK Counter-Terror Operation Near US Air Base
Explosion captured on camera as police investigate suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford; five men arrested and bailed.
A police robot detonated explosives to blast open the doors of a white van as part of a counter-terrorism operation near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. The incident occurred early Sunday morning when authorities responded to reports of three suspicious vans found in proximity to the airbase, which has been used by the U.S. military for strikes against Iran.
Video footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows a fireball erupting from the rear of one of the vans, followed by a large plume of smoke. Aerial views had previously shown a bomb disposal robot investigating the vehicles. While the robot successfully breached two of the vans, the third van's doors remained shut until the controlled explosion.
A local resident, who captured the footage on their security camera, described the event as a "small explosive" being used to open the third van's doors. Residents were evacuated from their homes and sheltered in a leisure center overnight while police secured the scene. They were allowed to return on Monday, though a cordon remained around the vehicles.
Five men, aged between 23 and 25 and all from London, were detained on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses. They were stripped of their clothing amid concerns they might be wearing suicide vests but were subsequently released on bail within 36 hours of their arrest. Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
It has since emerged that the operation was initiated after one of the suspects called emergency services himself. The motivation behind this call is under investigation, with speculation it could range from the suspect attempting to withdraw from a plan to it being part of a coordinated message.
On Tuesday, police announced that no improvised explosive devices were found in the vans, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. A farmer who alerted authorities to the suspicious vans reported seeing eight to 10 masked men in the area, though it is now understood these figures were armed police.
Iran has categorically rejected any involvement in the alleged plot, with its London embassy dismissing reports linking Tehran to the arrests as "unfounded and malicious speculations." The embassy stated that such reports aim to fuel "Iranophobia propaganda in the UK" and reserved the right to take legal measures.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the incident, suggesting it "clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor." He acknowledged the sensitive nature of the situation and the ongoing cooperation with British authorities regarding the investigation.