FIVE ARRESTED IN SUSPECTED TERROR PLOT NEAR RAF FAIRFORD, U.S.-USED AIR BASE

British counterterrorism police investigate three suspicious vehicles near the military installation as bomb disposal teams deploy, residents evacuate and security increases at other U.S.-used bases

FAIRFORD, England | British authorities arrested five men Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosives-related offenses near RAF Fairford, prompting evacuations, a bomb disposal response and increased security at other military installations used by U.S. forces.

Counterterrorism investigators took over the case after police received a report about three suspicious vehicles apparently traveling toward the Gloucestershire air base early Sunday. Armed officers intercepted the vehicles and arrested five men nearby.

The suspects remained in custody on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and offenses under Britain's Explosives Act while investigators worked to determine their intentions and potential motive.

President Donald Trump said British and U.S. authorities had been investigating the suspects and believed they intended to cause significant damage.

“They were looking to do big damage,” Trump told reporters, praising cooperation between the two countries.

British police have not publicly identified the suspects or established a motive.

An Iranian connection is among the possibilities investigators are examining, according to a source familiar with the investigation. A potential Russian sabotage operation or Islamist plot also is being considered. Authorities have not publicly attributed the suspected plot to any government, organization or ideology.

The investigation carries heightened national security implications because Britain has authorized U.S. bombers operating from Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites during the conflict involving attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously warned Britain against allowing U.S. bombers to launch attacks from the country, saying bases used for such operations could become military targets.

Those threats provide context for the investigation but do not establish a connection to Sunday's arrests.

BOMB DISPOSAL TEAMS DEPLOY, RESIDENTS EVACUATED

Authorities established a roughly 400-meter security cordon while bomb disposal specialists examined the three vehicles.

Residents from approximately 85 homes in nearby Whelford were evacuated as a precaution, while armed officers secured roads around the installation.

Police said they believed the immediate incident had been 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.

Authorities said investigators were working with partner agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

RAF Fairford, about 80 miles west of London, is a Royal Air Force installation that regularly supports U.S. Air Force operations and strategic bomber deployments, including aircraft such as the B-52H Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer.

SECURITY TIGHTENS AT OTHER U.S.-USED BASES

Security was also increased at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in eastern England.

Reuters witnesses reported armored vehicles and military personnel positioned near entrances to the installations as authorities responded to the Fairford incident.

The U.S. Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures.

“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” an Air Force spokesperson said.

The service routinely adjusts installation security based on intelligence, threat assessments and other force-protection considerations.

The arrests come amid broader British concern about potential threats to military installations and critical infrastructure.

British officials have previously warned infrastructure operators about possible Russian-linked sabotage and cyber operations. Moscow denies conducting hybrid attacks against Western countries.

Military installation security has already drawn scrutiny in Britain. In June 2025, Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged military aircraft. The British government subsequently proscribed the group as a terrorist organization.

INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON MOTIVE

The investigation now centers on the contents of the vehicles, the suspects' communications and backgrounds, and whether evidence connects the alleged plot to a foreign government, terrorist organization or other network.

Those findings will determine whether authorities view the incident as an isolated suspected terrorism case or part of a broader threat to military infrastructure in Britain.

The five suspects remained in custody Sunday as counterterrorism detectives continued their investigation.

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-- By Jasmine Thomas

Sarah Darden contributed to this report.

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