Five men arrested near RAF Fairford over suspected explosives and terrorism offences

British counter-terrorism police arrested five men on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a military base used by United States long-range bombers involved in air strikes against Iran. The operation was triggered after police received a report shortly after midnight about three suspicious vehicles heading toward the base. Armed officers apprehended the men in the neighbouring village of Whelford, initially arresting them under the Explosives Act 1875 before re-arresting them on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

Authorities evacuated 85 households to a leisure centre as the army's bomb disposal unit examined the three white vans, which were located in nearby woods. Aerial footage showed a specialist robot inspecting the vehicles. Vicki Evans, a counter-terrorism senior officer, stated that investigators remained in the early stages of the investigation. Gloucestershire assistant chief constable Richard Ocone confirmed that materials had been seized for examination. According to The Guardian, the operation was not intelligence-led, indicating that police had received no advance warning of a potential plot.

US President Donald Trump publicly praised the arrests as fantastic, claiming that Washington and London had been monitoring the men for an extended period. The US Embassy in London subsequently advised American citizens to exercise caution. The identities of the men and any potential motive remain undisclosed, although British law permits police to detain suspects for up to 14 days without formal charges.