Five men arrested near Fairford air base on terrorism suspicion
Police held five men Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford. Officers took the men into custody during the middle of the night. The arrests involved three trucks travelling toward the military site.
London’s Metropolitan Police received a call at 12:45 a.m. regarding the vehicles. The trucks appeared to be heading toward the base. Authorities are investigating a potential link to Iran as one possibility.
Officers initially arrested the five men in the Whelford area under the Explosives Act. Police have not provided the nationality of the detained men. A 400-meter cordon was set up around the three trucks.
The army conducted examinations of the scene. Around 85 households were evacuated as a precaution. Some evacuated residents went to a nearby recreation centre.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, the Met’s counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator.
Aerial footage from Sky News appeared to show a bomb disposal robot. The robot moved between three white trucks. Large black items sat scattered near two open vans.
Leaders Speak on Fairford Incidents
U.S. President Donald Trump praised the personnel involved in the operation.
“It was 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 told reporters in Chicago. “We had them under view for a long time and we got them.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on social media that the incident would be deeply concerning for many. Burnham thanked the police and armed forces. He urged the public not to speculate on the matter.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting spoke about the incident. Gloucestershire police stated the situation appeared contained.
Julian Tudsbery lived in Whelford for 30 years. He said a neighbor saw three suspicious vans early on Sunday.
“There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate,” Tudsbery said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force said personnel remain vigilant. The spokesperson stated they would not discuss force protection measures.
Security Background and Military Role
The U.K. owns RAF Fairford. The U.S. operates the installation under an agreement dating back to the Cold War. The site hosts the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron.
American bombers used Fairford for limited strikes on Iranian missile targets. This followed an agreement with former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.
Iran previously stated bases used for attacks are legitimate targets. British officials said Iranian proxies carried out arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K.
Hostile state cases in the U.K. rose 50% in the six months to December 2025. Russia and Iran used proxies for crimes on British soil, officials said.
The Terrorism Act 2000 allows police to hold suspects for up to 14 days without charge. Standard arrests allow detention for up to 24 hours without an extension.
Police continue to hold the suspects while counterterrorism inquiries proceed near the base.
