London: British armed police arrested five men near RAF Fairford early Sunday after receiving a report that three suspicious vehicles were travelling towards the US used military base.
The suspects were detained in Whelford, Gloucestershire, on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. Counter terrorism police later said they were also being investigated on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism.
An army explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to examine the vehicles. Police established a 400 metre security cordon and advised about 85 households to evacuate as a precaution. The suspects remained in custody while the investigation continued.
No attack was reported, and British authorities had not disclosed the suspects’ identities, nationalities or possible motive. Police also had not confirmed whether the material recovered from the vehicles constituted a functional explosive device.
US President Donald Trump praised the arrests and said the suspects had been “looking to do big damage” to the base. He claimed US and British authorities had kept them under investigation for an extended period.
That account differed from British media reports citing security sources, which said the operation was not intelligence led. The official police timeline said officers responded after receiving a call at about 12:45 am concerning the vehicles. Authorities had not publicly explained the apparent difference between the accounts.
RAF Fairford is a British military installation used by the US Air Force. It can host American B1 and B52 long range bombers and has supported US operations against Iranian missile sites during the continuing Middle East conflict.
The base’s wartime role has increased its strategic importance and prompted tighter security, but investigators have not linked any other state to Sunday’s incident.
British police urged the public not to speculate while specialists examined the vehicles and other seized material.
