5 arrested on terrorism suspicion near RAF Fairford

British police arrested five men early Sunday near RAF Fairford, a base used by U.S. bombers striking Iran, and later said they were investigating the men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

The arrests followed a 12:45 a.m. call about three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the base, Gloucestershire police said. Armed officers detained the men near the village of Whelford. They were initially arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses and remained in custody as of Sunday afternoon.

Aerial footage published by multiple news outlets appeared to show a bomb disposal robot inspecting three white vans.

British Army bomb disposal specialists were inspecting the vehicles inside a 400-meter cordon, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police. The London-based police force is leading a counterterrorism investigation, the statement said.

About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution, according to police, and a nearby recreation center has been opened for those needing shelter.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that the men had been under investigation and were “looking to do big damage to our fort.”

“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” Trump said, praising cooperation with British authorities.

British police have not said whether the base, which has been used by U.S. heavy bombers to conduct strikes on Iran, was the intended target and have not confirmed Trump’s account of prior surveillance.

A B-52 Stratofortress lands at RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 22, 2020. Police in the United Kingdom evacuated homes near RAF Fairford on Sunday after arresting several men for suspected explosive offenses. (Eugene Oliver/U.S. Air Force)

“The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a post on X.

The U.K. government authorized U.S. forces to use air bases, including RAF Fairford, to strike Iranian missile sites after the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Feb. 28. British officials have characterized the strikes as defensive and permitted under international law. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has named RAF Fairford and warned that bases used to attack Iran are legitimate targets.

U.S. forces have used Fairford as a staging point during the war for long-range bombers, including the B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress.

Neither British nor U.S. officials have publicly linked Sunday’s arrests to Iran.

Earlier Sunday, an eyewitness reported that armed police had blocked access to the main gate of the base, while equipment had been positioned in front of access points, according to the Reuters news agency. Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were stationed in the village ​near the base, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Air Force said it was aware of the current reporting but declined to discuss specific force protection measures for operational security reasons.

“U.S. Air Forces in Europe remains vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement to Stars and Stripes Sunday. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”

Gloucestershire police said they were working as quickly as possible to get people back to their residences.

Roz Savage, a lawmaker who represents the area around RAF Fairford, described “worrying scenes” outside the installation, but said she was told by police “that it is believed the incident is contained.”

“We can be reassured that this is being dealt with,” British defense secretary Wes Streeting added in a post on X, “and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.