A security operation is under way near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after a local farmer reported seeing a large group of hooded and masked men in the area, prompting an emergency response and the arrest of five suspects.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, 27 September, after a member of the public contacted emergency services about suspicious vehicles and activity close to the military airbase. Police subsequently moved into the Whelford area, where several men were arrested and a number of vehicles were examined by specialist explosives officers.
According to police, officers initially arrested the five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were later arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act. Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that the arrests do not, by themselves, establish guilt.
The response involved armed police, counter-terrorism officers and the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team. Three vans were examined as part of the operation, with bomb-disposal experts using specialist equipment to assess their contents. Reports said investigators were examining suspected explosive devices, although testing was continuing to determine whether the materials posed an active threat.
The seriousness of the operation led authorities to establish a security cordon around parts of the surrounding area. Residents in Whelford were evacuated from their homes and taken to a nearby leisure centre while specialists assessed the situation. Gloucestershire Police said the incident was considered contained and that established emergency procedures had been activated.
Residents described a tense morning as police moved through the village and instructed people to leave their homes. Local accounts said suspicious vans had attracted attention during the night, with residents communicating about the vehicles before emergency services were contacted.
RAF Fairford has particular security significance because the base is used by the United States Air Force and is capable of supporting large military aircraft. Its role has received increased public attention amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the use of the base for US military operations.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests are now being examined by counter-terrorism investigators, including the question of why the men were in the area and what, if anything, they intended to do. Investigators are also expected to examine the vehicles, materials recovered and any communications or other evidence that could help establish the purpose of the group's presence.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly established a definitive motive. Reports have raised questions about possible foreign involvement, but investigators are understood to be considering different possibilities rather than reaching a final conclusion.
The incident has also highlighted the importance of information supplied by members of the public. The emergency response began after suspicious activity was reported, allowing police to intervene and establish a cordon while specialist teams assessed the situation.
As the investigation continues, residents near RAF Fairford remain keen to understand when normal access to the affected areas will fully resume and what led the group to be in the vicinity of the base. Police are expected to provide further information as the investigation develops, while the five arrested men remain subject to the legal process.