Five men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday near RAF Fairford, a U.S.-operated air base in England, on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act involving three trucks spotted heading toward the facility. London’s Metropolitan Police said it received a call at 12:45 a.m. after the vehicles raised concern in the area.
The arrests come as the base has been at the center of American military operations, with U.S. bombers using RAF Fairford for targeted strikes against Iranian missile sites under an agreement with British officials. Investigators are examining a possible link to Iran, which has previously described bases used to attack its territory as legitimate targets.
The Base at the Heart of the U.S.-Iran Conflict
RAF Fairford is a U.K.-owned installation operated by the United States under an agreement dating to the Cold War. It hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron, and has served as a launchpad for strictly limited strikes against Iran since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the use of the base while voicing opposition to the broader war launched by the U.S. and Israel.
The five men were initially arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act in the Whelford area, which borders the base. Aerial footage from Sky News appeared to show a bomb disposal robot moving between three white trucks, with the rear doors of two vans open and large black items scattered nearby. As a precaution, around 85 households were evacuated to a nearby recreation center while army personnel conducted examinations of the vehicles. According to the RAF Fairford terror arrest, a 400-meter cordon was established around the trucks.
Trump Praises Arrest Operation, Police Detail the Response
President Donald Trump addressed the incident while speaking to reporters in Chicago on Sunday, crediting coordination between U.S. and British authorities. “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,” Trump said. “We had them under view for a long time and we got them.”
Vicki Evans, the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator, confirmed the ongoing investigation. “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” she said. Police gave no details about the nationality of those arrested. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, suspects can be held for up to 14 days without charge.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the incident would be “deeply concerning” for many people, thanking police and armed forces for their response while urging the public “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.” The defense secretaries of both countries, Pete Hegseth and Wes Streeting, also spoke about the incident. Julian Tudsbery, a Whelford resident of 30 years, said a neighbor reported seeing three “suspicious vans” in the village before police arrived and ordered evacuations.
Investigation Continues as Iran Threat Looms
Gloucestershire police said the situation appeared “contained” as of Sunday afternoon, though the investigation remains in its early stages. British security officials have warned that Iran-linked proxies have been behind a string of arson and sabotage attempts across the U.K., many targeting the Jewish community, and that Tehran could expand its targets if Middle East conflicts continue.
The U.S. embassy in London urged Americans to exercise caution and remain mindful of their personal security. Officials noted that national security cases involving hostile state activity, including from Iran, rose 50 percent in the six months to December 2025, underscoring the heightened threat environment surrounding the arrests.
