British counter-terrorism officers are investigating a major security incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and committing offences under the Explosives Act.
The incident began in the early hours of Sunday, September 27, when police received a report at about 12:45 a.m. concerning three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be travelling towards the military airbase. Armed officers were deployed to the Whelford area, where the five men were subsequently arrested.
The arrests triggered a large emergency response around the base, which is owned by the United Kingdom and used by the United States Air Force. Counter Terrorism Policing has taken the lead in the investigation, while Gloucestershire Police and other specialist agencies are assisting at the scene.
Authorities established a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles as Army explosive ordnance disposal specialists examined them. As a precaution, about 85 households in the surrounding area were evacuated while the examination was carried out. Residents were moved away from the affected area as emergency services worked to establish whether any dangerous materials or devices were present.
Police have stressed that the investigation remains at an early stage. The five men remain in custody, and authorities have not publicly disclosed their identities, nationalities or detailed information about the evidence being examined.
The proximity of the arrests to RAF Fairford has attracted international attention because of the base's role in supporting US military operations. The facility hosts US Air Force units and has been used in operations connected with the conflict involving Iran. However, British authorities have not established publicly that the arrests were connected to the airbase, the conflict or any foreign government.
The circumstances surrounding the suspected offences are therefore still being established. Counter Terrorism Policing's senior national coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said investigators were working with partner agencies to understand what had happened and gather evidence from the scene.
The operation has also prompted heightened security measures around RAF Fairford, with armed officers and emergency personnel deployed in the surrounding area. Police have said the situation is contained while enquiries continue.
US President Donald Trump separately said American authorities had worked with British officials in relation to the arrests and claimed the suspects had been under investigation for some time. Those comments have not, however, been presented by British police as a confirmation of the suspects' motives or of any completed terrorist plot.
For now, the central facts remain that five men have been arrested, three vehicles are being examined and counter-terrorism officers are investigating suspected explosives and terrorism offences. Further details are expected as investigators establish what the vehicles contained, why they were travelling in the area and whether there was any intended connection to RAF Fairford.
The case remains an active investigation, and the men's arrest on suspicion of offences does not by itself establish guilt.