Gloucestershire police arrested five men in the early hours of Sunday in the village of Whelford, a short distance from RAF Fairford, a U.K. airfield operated by the United States. The arrests came after a 12:45 a.m. call reported three suspicious trucks heading toward the base, which houses U.S. bombers used in limited strikes against Iranian missile sites.
Police response and investigation
Metropolitan Police, leading the counter‑terrorism effort, said the men are being held on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act. A bomb‑disposal robot was deployed to examine the three white vans, two of which had rear doors open and large black objects visible inside. Authorities have set up a 400‑meter cordon around the vehicles while the army conducts examinations.
As a precaution, about 85 households in the surrounding area were evacuated 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 senior national coordinator for counter‑terrorism policing.
National security context
The incident occurs amid heightened concerns over hostile state activity in the United Kingdom. British officials have warned that Russia and Iran have used proxies to commit crimes on British soil, and a recent report showed a 50 % rise in national‑security cases involving hostile states in the six months to December 2025.
Iran has previously declared that bases used to strike its territory are legitimate targets. While investigators are still probing a possible link between the arrests and Iranian actors, no nationality details have been released for the suspects.
Trump’s commendation
President Donald Trump praised the joint U.K.–U.S. effort from Chicago on Sunday, stating, “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. We had them under view for a long time and we got them.” The comment underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting American forces abroad and supporting allied security partners.
Local officials react
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the incident “deeply concerning” and thanked police and the armed forces for their swift response. He expressed gratitude to residents who were evacuated, urging the public not to speculate while authorities establish the full facts.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.K. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also issued statements affirming the importance of the partnership at RAF Fairford and the need for vigilance against hostile proxies.
Community impact
Local resident Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for three decades, recounted seeing the three vans early Sunday and hearing police instruct residents to evacuate. “There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident,” he said.
Gloucestershire Police described the situation as “contained” and urged anyone in the area to follow official advice while the investigation continues.
What’s next?
The suspects can be detained for up to 14 days without charge under the Terrorism Act 2000, longer than the 24‑hour limit for standard arrests. Authorities have not indicated when further details will be released, but the joint U.K.–U.S. response signals a firm stance against any attempts to target American forces on British soil.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
