Five men are held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after explosives were found in vans near RAF Fairford, a UK base used by US forces against Iran. Investigators are examining a possible Iran link.
British counter-terrorism police are holding five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after explosives were found in three vans stopped near RAF Fairford, an air base in Gloucestershire used by the United States Air Force for operations against Iran.
What happened
Police received a call at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, 27 September, reporting three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling toward the airbase. Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were later further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
A major incident was declared, and 85 households in the village of Whelford were evacuated to a leisure centre in Cirencester. Police placed a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles while Army explosive ordnance disposal teams examined them with remote-controlled robots. Residents were told they would not be able to return home overnight.
A plot foiled by chance
According to the BBC, the operation was not intelligence-led. The arrests followed a 999 call from a local resident who reported seeing three parked vans and a group of men wearing masks. The Guardian reported that a member of the public raised the alarm after spotting unusual late-night behaviour in the countryside.
US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been “looking to do big damage” and that they had been “under view for a long time.” However, reporting by the Guardian and the BBC indicates the authorities had not known about the alleged plot in advance — a discrepancy that has raised questions about the UK’s security posture around the base.
Iran in focus, but no conclusions
The Guardian, citing its own reporting, said investigators were examining whether Iran was behind the suspected plot, with an initial assessment that the materials found were consistent with improvised explosive devices. Tests were still under way to determine whether the devices were viable.
That line of inquiry rests partly on prior warnings. In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps noted RAF Fairford’s use by US bombers and warned the UK that “any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target.”
Sources told the Guardian nothing was being ruled out, including a jihadist or other motive. The UK threat level remains at “severe,” the second-highest category, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. Whether there was any foreign involvement forms part of the investigation.
Response and wider security measures
Gloucestershire Constabulary’s temporary Chief Constable, Maggie Blyth, said she believed the matter was “contained.” The five men remained in custody as of Sunday evening.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, kept updated from the Labour party conference in Liverpool, called the situation “deeply concerning” and said the government would “always take every step necessary” to protect the public. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he had been in contact with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth.
The US Department of Defense raised the threat level at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which hosts the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, to its second-highest category. A USAF spokesperson said personnel remained vigilant but declined to discuss specific force protection measures.
Why Fairford matters
RAF Fairford has a runway extending nearly 2 miles (3 km), reinforced to support heavy bombers such as the B-1 and B-52, which have been deployed in strikes on Iran. Since the start of the war in February, the base has been used by US forces targeting Iran. Britain authorised “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases in March, a decision that has drawn protests.
Residents have described heightened tensions around the base in recent weeks, with more frequent visible police patrols.
What remains unclear
Investigators have not announced charges, identified a motive, or confirmed any state involvement. The viability of the suspected devices, the full contents of the vans, and whether other individuals are being sought remain subjects of an active inquiry. Counter-terrorism police said the investigation was in its early stages.