In the early hours of Sunday, police in Gloucestershire responded to reports of three white vans moving toward the U.S. Air Force runway at RAF Fairford. The vehicles were spotted near the village of Whelford, about a mile from the base, and within minutes a major incident was declared.
Five men were taken into custody on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and of preparing a terrorist act. The suspects remain detained while investigators piece together the full scope of the plot.
Arrests and police coordination
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone confirmed that the initial arrests were made after officers received a call reporting the suspicious vans. He added that a 440-yard security cordon was erected around the site and that an Army ordnance disposal team is currently examining the three vehicles.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of Counter Terrorism Policing said the operation is being handled in close collaboration with national and international partners, stressing that the investigation is still in its “early stages.” Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth later briefed the media, noting that the disposal unit continues its work and that the situation is now contained thanks to the “swift arrests.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson thanked local residents for their patience and highlighted that the response followed well-understood major-incident contingency plans.
Security backdrop and political reactions
RAF Fairford has been a focal point for U.S. operations targeting Iran, a role that has drawn heightened vigilance from both British and American authorities. Six weeks ago, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any base used to strike Iranian territory would be a “legitimate target.”
President Donald Trump commented on the arrests, stating that the suspects “were looking to do big damage to our fort” and praising the cooperation between U.S. and British forces. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham posted on X that the incident is deeply concerning and reiterated that public safety is the top priority, urging the public not to speculate while facts are being established.
Earlier in the year, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved the use of UK bases for “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran, a decision that has now been tested by the recent security alert.
Impact on the local community
Approximately 85 households in the surrounding area have been evacuated and relocated to a nearby recreation centre. Cotswold District Council member Tristan Wilkinson explained that the alert level was raised after the Iranian threat and that the police response aims to reassure residents.
Council representative David Stanley said the council is arranging overnight accommodation for those displaced, with some families staying with friends and others receiving temporary housing provided by the local authority.
Aerial footage captured bomb-disposal robots inspecting the vans while roadblocks and a visible police presence were maintained around the airfield. The Army ordnance disposal team continues to assess the vehicles for any explosive material.
U.S. European Command declined to detail specific force-protection measures, but affirmed that they remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to safeguard service members, civilians and contractors across the European theater.
As the investigation proceeds, Counter Terrorism Policing has assumed primacy over the case, and officials indicated that a formal decision on whether to label the event a “terrorist incident” will be made in due course.
