British police arrested five men in the early hours of Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near RAF Fairford, a United Kingdom-owned military installation operated by the United States. The Metropolitan Police received a call at 12:45 a.m. regarding three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be heading toward the base located in Whelford, England. The men were initially detained under the Explosives Act, with authorities investigating potential links to Iran as one line of inquiry.
RAF Fairford serves as a U.S. Air Force facility under a Cold War-era agreement between the two nations. The base has been utilized by American bombers to conduct limited strikes against Iranian missile sites, following an agreement with former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had expressed opposition to the broader conflict launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28. Iran has previously indicated that military installations used to target its territory may be considered legitimate targets for retaliation.
Authorities established a 400-meter cordon around the three white trucks while military personnel conducted examinations of the vehicles. Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot working near the trucks, with large black objects visible near two of them. As a precaution, approximately 85 households in the surrounding area were evacuated to a nearby recreation center during the investigation.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and U.S. President Donald Trump both commented on the incident. Trump praised the joint investigation efforts, stating that the suspects had been under surveillance for an extended period. Burnham thanked police and armed forces for their response and urged the public to avoid speculation while authorities completed their investigation. The arrests occur amid broader concerns about hostile state activity in the United Kingdom, with security officials warning of potential Iranian-linked proxy operations targeting British interests.
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