Five men have been arrested as counter-terrorism police investigate a major security incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The arrests followed a report about three “suspicious vehicles” travelling towards the Royal Air Force base at around 00:45 BST on Sunday.
Police said the five men were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
Homes Evacuated Near RAF Base
A major incident was declared following the report, leading to the evacuation of dozens of homes in the nearby village of Whelford.
Residents have been told they cannot return to their properties overnight while emergency services continue their work.
Authorities said they believe the situation is contained.
A 400-metre cordon has been established around the area, while a hazardous area response team has also been deployed.
An Army explosive ordnance disposal team has been examining vehicles near the airbase as part of the ongoing operation.
Investigation Remains at Early Stage
Counter Terrorism Policing and Gloucestershire Police said the investigation remained at an early stage on Sunday evening.
Gloucestershire Constabulary’s temporary Chief Constable, Maggie Blyth, said authorities believed the situation was contained when asked whether police were looking for additional suspects.
The BBC reported that the operation was not intelligence-led and that the men were first detained by local police.
An image circulating after the arrests has also been geolocated by BBC Verify. The image appeared to show five detained men in Whelford, around 350 metres from runway access at RAF Fairford.
The original source of the image could not be independently verified, although BBC Verify reported that the image appeared authentic.
US Military Presence
RAF Fairford has a long association with the United States military and is used by the US Air Force.
President Donald Trump commented on the arrests, saying the suspects had allegedly been under observation and were believed to have been planning to cause significant damage.
The UK Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, said he had been in contact with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The US Air Force said its personnel remained vigilant but declined to discuss specific security measures.
The US Department of Defense also raised the threat level at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which hosts the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, to its second-highest category.
The circumstances surrounding the Fairford incident remain under investigation.
