Five arrested as UK police foil suspected bomb plot near US-used RAF base
British police evacuated dozens of homes and arrested five men near RAF Fairford on Sunday over a suspected plot targeting the base used by US aircraft.
British counter-terrorism police arrested five men on Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base in Gloucestershire used by United States forces. Police declared a major incident and evacuated about 85 households in the nearby village of Welford, moving residents to a local community centre while officers searched several vehicles at the scene. A bomb disposal team examined the vehicles and a military cordon was set up around the area, with a specialist medical team trained for hazardous incidents also sent to the scene, Macedonian outlet Makfax reported.
US President Donald Trump said the men had wanted to "do big damage to our base" and had been under surveillance for some time, though he gave no further detail. None of the five had been charged by Sunday evening; under British terrorism law, suspects can be held without charge for up to 14 days while the investigation continues. The US government also issued a warning to American citizens living in Britain after the arrests, the Daily Mirror reported.
RAF Fairford, about 100 kilometres west of London, hosts the US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and has been used to deploy B-52 bombers. Several outlets reported that investigators were examining a possible link to Iran, after Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned in July that Britain should not let American aircraft use UK bases, including Fairford, to strike Iranian territory, calling any such base a legitimate target.
Britain's prime minister, Andy Burnham, said he was being kept regularly briefed by local authorities but declined to comment further or make accusations while the investigation continued. According to the BBC, the case is being led by the counter-terrorism unit of British police, which said it currently believed the incident was contained to the area around the base and did not pose a wider danger to the public.
Swedish and Portuguese media reported that a local farmer alerted police after noticing suspicious activity near the base, and was credited with helping stop the suspected attack before it could go ahead.
The arrests came after months of tension over British and American use of bases in England to support operations against Iran. RAF Fairford has previously been the target of protests over its use by American bombers in that campaign.
What we know
- Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.
- Police evacuated about 85 households in the village of Welford and searched vehicles at the scene.
- US President Donald Trump said the men had wanted to "do big damage to our base".
- Investigators are examining a possible link to Iran, which warned in July against US aircraft using UK bases including Fairford.
- A local farmer was credited by Swedish and Portuguese media with alerting police before the alleged plot could go ahead.
Not yet confirmed
- Some later reports said the five men had been released on bail; this was not confirmed by two independent sources.
- A Serbian broadcaster reported the arrested men were Serbian nationals; this was not corroborated elsewhere.
Why it matters for Europe
RAF Fairford is one of the main European bases used to deploy US strategic bombers and has supported American operations against Iran, making it a potential target for retaliation. The incident triggered a rare evacuation of a British village and a full counter-terrorism response, showing the security risks facing bases used jointly by British and American forces in Europe.
The case also comes as Western governments weigh further pressure on Tehran, meaning any confirmed Iranian link to a plot on British soil would mark a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and NATO members hosting US forces.
Sources
Reported by 63 reports from 63 independent outlets in 39 countries.
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Questions and answers
- Where did the arrests take place?
- Near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, about 100 kilometres west of London, where police evacuated the nearby village of Welford.
- Why is RAF Fairford significant?
- It hosts the US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and has been used to deploy B-52 bombers, including in operations against Iran.
- Have the arrested men been charged?
- No. As of Sunday evening none had been charged, though UK law allows terrorism suspects to be held without charge for up to 14 days.
This article was written with AI assistance from 75 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.