British police were questioning five men on Monday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses following their detention near RAF Fairford, a military airbase in western England that has been used by the U.S. to conduct operations, including strikes against Iran. The men were apprehended in the early hours of Sunday after authorities received a tip-off about three large white vans heading toward the airbase.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the suspects had intended to cause "big damage" and had been under surveillance by British and U.S. authorities. A source familiar with the investigation indicated that an Iranian-linked motive is considered the most probable, although other possibilities, such as a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot, are also being examined.
The incident has raised security concerns, with the U.S. Embassy issuing a security alert advising U.S. citizens to "exercise caution" and be "mindful of personal security," noting that U.S.-associated facilities, gatherings, and organizations might be at heightened risk. Security was also enhanced at other U.S. air bases in Britain.
While police have released limited information, a local farmer alerted authorities after observing a group of "hooded and masked men" entering fields near the base. Defense Minister Wes Streeting commented on the broader Iranian threat, stating, "We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm. We know that they hate our democracy, and we know that we regularly have to thwart Iranian attempts to threaten either our interests or indeed our allies.”
Britain has previously sanctioned individuals and entities linked to Iran for hostile activities, including plotting attacks and providing financial support to groups aiming to destabilize the UK and its allies. Iran has consistently denied any involvement in attacks or plots within the UK or elsewhere.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards had issued a warning in July, advising Britain against allowing U.S. bombers to fly from Fairford, designating any base used for launching attacks as a legitimate target. The British government had previously authorized the U.S. to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to the incident, police established a 400-meter cordon around the Fairford base and evacuated residents from 85 nearby homes. A bomb disposal robot was observed operating near the three white vans, and security measures, including armed police and large machinery blocking access points, were significantly increased around the base.