British police declared a “major incident” on Sunday near a major Royal Air Force base used by the United States for strikes against Iran, with five men arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act that appeared to involve three vans.
RAF Fairford, which the United Kingdom authorized the U.S. to use for defensive strikes against Iran, is an important base for the U.S., as it hosts U.S. heavy bombers, which were used during the intensive combat phase of the war to hit entrenched, high-priority targets. The arrests occurred near the village of Whelford, roughly 2 miles from the base, and Gloucestershire police evacuated local residents to a nearby leisure center.
Authorities are investigating an Iranian animus as one possibility, as Tehran has previously indicated that any base used to attack its territory is a legitimate target.
“A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident,” Gloucestershire police said in a statement sent to media. “It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.”
Pictures posted online purporting to show the site of the arrest showed several shirtless men handcuffed, sitting on the ground. Police later confirmed that five people were arrested, initially on explosives charges.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the investigation is ongoing and praised authorities.
“I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country. My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe,” the prime minister wrote Sunday. “I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out.”
“The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe,” he added. “The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
President Donald Trump hailed the arrests as “fantastic,” saying British police did “an amazing job.”
“We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great,” he said.
“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” Trump concluded.
A U.S. Air Force spokesperson told media that its personnel at RAF Fairford “remain vigilant” and that it wouldn’t comment on specifics for operational security reasons.
“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” they said. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”
Aerial footage from Sky News showed a bomb disposal robot moving between three vans. Local resident Julian Tudsbery told the Associated Press that the police response was triggered by a tip from a resident, who reported the three “suspicious vans” early on Sunday.
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting assured the public that the situation “is being dealt with,” with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s office saying he was receiving updates.
“I would like to thank all those emergency and specialist teams who have acted so swiftly regarding the incident in Gloucestershire,” Streeting said in a post on X. “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with, and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”
The air base itself was bustling with activity after the men were apprehended. Videos showed helicopters and military armored vehicles patrolling the base. Roads and entrances to the base were sealed.
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened the U.K. early in the war after it cleared the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes. It reiterated these threats as recently as July, saying, “Any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target.”
NATO forces have been on high alert over the past several months over threats from Russian and Iranian hybrid warfare. The Gloucestershire incident appears to be the most severe so far.
