UK Police Arrest Five Men Over Suspected Terror Plot Near US-Used Air Base

British police have arrested five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford, an air base in Gloucestershire used by United States forces for military operations.

The arrests were made early Sunday after police received a report at about 12:45 a.m. concerning three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling towards the air base. Armed officers responded and detained the five men in the nearby Whelford area.

The men were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the UK Terrorism Act. Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation, with all five suspects remaining in custody.

A 400-metre cordon was established around the vehicles while the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team examined them. Authorities also evacuated about 85 households in the area as a precaution, with residents directed to a nearby leisure centre while the operation continued.

Gloucestershire Police said the incident was believed to be contained and urged members of the public not to speculate while investigators establish what happened. Counter Terrorism Policing said it remained in the early stages of the investigation and was working with local police and other agencies to gather evidence.

RAF Fairford has become strategically significant because it hosts US Air Force personnel and has been used by American long-range bombers during military operations against Iran. The base hosts the US Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing, while American B-1 and B-52 bombers have operated from the facility.

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation by British and American authorities and alleged that they were seeking to cause “big damage” at the base. British authorities, however, have not publicly established the motive behind the arrests.

Reuters reported that an Iranian-linked motive was among the possibilities being examined, while Russian sabotage and Islamist extremism were also reportedly being considered. ITV News separately reported that investigators were examining whether the incident could have involved individuals acting on behalf of Iran. Neither possibility has been established by police as the cause of the incident.

The incident prompted a major emergency response in the surrounding area, while security was also increased at other US-linked British military installations. Reuters reported heightened security at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, although the US Air Force declined to disclose specific force-protection measures.

The UK government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being kept informed and thanked emergency services for acting quickly to detain the suspects and protect local residents. Officials have stressed that investigations remain ongoing and that further details will depend on evidence recovered from the scene.