British police on Sunday arrested five men near RAF Fairford, an air base in western England that hosts U.S. Air Force personnel and has been used to launch bomber strikes against Iran, on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offenses. The arrests followed a tip that three vans were traveling toward the base in the early hours of the morning, according to British counter terrorism detectives leading the investigation.
The five men were detained by armed officers and later held on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. Police said they believed the incident was now contained. A 400-meter cordon was placed around the base while a bomb disposal unit investigated the vans, and residents in 85 homes in a nearby village were evacuated, police said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation by British and U.S. authorities and were looking to do “big damage.”
“We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our port and working with the British worked out great. … We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” Trump told reporters.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans said the investigation was in its early stages and the five men remained in custody. Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said the cordon was in place as a precaution and an emergency services presence would remain in the area.
The British government has authorized the U.S. to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being updated on the incident, and Burnham wrote on X that it “will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.”
Police have not identified who they believe was involved. A source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, while a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being examined. Britain said in July its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned it not to allow U.S. bombers to fly from Fairford, saying any base used to launch attacks would be a legitimate target.
Reuters witnesses said security was increased at other U.S.-used bases, with armored vehicles and soldiers at the gates of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in eastern England. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson declined to discuss specific force protection measures but said the 501st Combat Support Wing and other UK-based wings “remain vigilant” and constantly assess factors that determine protective measures.
British ministers have previously briefed critical infrastructure providers on the threat from Russia, with the government increasingly concerned about possible sabotage and cyberattacks. Russia denies mounting hybrid attacks on Western nations. In June 2025, a British military air base in central England was broken into by the Palestine Action protest group, which has since been proscribed as a terrorist organization.
Sources: Defense News · Army Times