• Police received tip-off about three suspicious vans heading towards airbase
• Trump praises arrests as ‘fantastic’ and ‘an amazing job’
FAIRFORD: British police arrested five men near a US air base on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after a tip-off about three vans heading towards the military airfield, drawing praise from US President Trump, who called the arrests “fantastic” and “an amazing job”.
British counterterrorism detectives leading the investigation said police had received a call about three suspicious vehicles which appeared to be travelling towards RAF Fairford in the west of England in the early hours of Sunday.
Five men were arrested by armed officers and later held on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. Police said they believed the incident was now contained.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans said in a statement.
“As you would expect we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.” Police said a 400-metre cordon was in place around the base as the bomb disposal unit investigated the vans. Local residents in 85 homes in a nearby village were evacuated and armed officers were patrolling the site.
The British government, which has given authorisation to the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being updated on the incident.
Burnham thanked the police and armed forces, saying on X: “I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.”
Police have not said who they believed was involved in Sunday’s alleged incident. An Iranian-linked motive is considered the most likely, a source familiar with the investigation said, while a Russian sabotage operation or an extremist plot are also being looked at.
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic,” Trump told reporters, saying it was “an amazing job”.
“We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our port and working with the British worked out great ... We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” Trump added.
On Sunday morning the base was blocked by armed police while large machinery also prevented access and Reuters witnesses said security had been increased at other bases used by the US, with armoured vehicles and soldiers at the gates of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in eastern England.
“A cordon is in place as a precaution and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time,” Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone told reporters.
A spokesperson for the US Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures.
Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026
