British security authorities have arrested five men over an alleged terrorist plot targeting Royal Air Force Fairford, a key military base in England being used by the United States for bomber operations against Iran.
The arrests followed a report to police at about 12:45 am on Sunday, September 27, concerning three suspicious vehicles believed to be travelling towards the Gloucestershire airbase. Armed officers were deployed and subsequently arrested the five men in the nearby Whelford area.
The suspects were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The arrests triggered a major security operation around the base, with armed police, roadblocks, and emergency vehicles deployed in the area.
Police have urged the public not to speculate about the incident, saying investigators are still working to establish its full circumstances.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said.
British security officials have not publicly established who was behind the alleged plot.
However, British media reports said investigators were examining several possible motives, including whether the incident was linked to Iran, Russian sabotage or an Islamist extremist plot.
The reported Iranian angle has attracted particular attention because of RAF Fairford’s role in US military operations against Iranian targets.
The possibility of an Iranian connection comes against the background of escalating tensions between Britain and Iran over the use of British military facilities by the United States.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously warned that British bases used to support attacks on Iranian territory could be regarded as legitimate targets. RAF Fairford was specifically associated with US bomber operations against Iran.
US President Donald Trump said the arrested men had been under investigation and were allegedly planning to cause significant damage at the base.
“It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation.
They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great. We had them under surveillance for a long time, and we got them,” Trump told reporters.
RAF Fairford is a British-owned military installation in Gloucestershire that serves as an important base for US Air Force operations and is regarded as a major bomber operating location in Europe.
The base has hosted American B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers and has been used for US military operations connected to the conflict with Iran. The installation also supports US military personnel and operations in Britain.
The United Kingdom authorised the use of its bases for limited US operations against Iran earlier this year. That decision intensified concerns about the security of British installations associated with American military operations.
RAF Fairford’s strategic importance and its association with US strikes against Iran have made it a potential focus of heightened security concerns.
Another major US-linked British base, RAF Lakenheath, hosts American fighter aircraft, including F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle jets.
Following Sunday’s incident, US and British authorities reiterated that they were working together to protect military personnel, civilians, and surrounding communities.
