A major counter-terrorism operation has been launched near a key UK airbase with deep historical ties to the U.S. military, resulting in the arrest of five men on suspicion of planning terrorist acts and violating explosive regulations. The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Sunday in Gloucestershire, west England, has forced the evacuation of dozens of local households and triggered a large-scale multi-agency response from UK and American security officials.
RAF Fairford, located roughly four miles south of the town of Fairford in the Cotswolds, has hosted American military personnel for decades. During the Cold War, it served as a strategic outpost for the U.S. Air Force, and it went on to support major coalition operations including the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Most recently, the base became a critical staging ground for U.S. warplanes carrying out defensive strikes on Iranian targets after the former UK prime minister approved American use of British bases for the operation. This deployment came amid escalating regional tensions following widespread U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks on Israel and Gulf U.S. allies.
The first alert of suspicious activity was raised just after 12:45 a.m. BST Sunday, when a local resident contacted emergency services after spotting three suspicious vehicles traveling in the direction of the base. The witness, who chose to remain anonymous, told reporters she first attempted to call Ministry of Defence police with no answer, before dialing 999. She reported seeing three parked vans and a group of masked men in the area, according to her account.
By around 2 a.m., officers from Gloucestershire Police had detained five men near Whelford, a small village roughly two miles southeast of the airbase. The arrests took place approximately 350 meters from a runway access point at the base, and a circulated image of the detention has been geolocated and verified as authentic by BBC Verify, though its original source could not be confirmed. The suspects were initially held under the Explosives Act before being re-arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, and all five remain in custody with their identities not yet released to the public. Under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, authorities can hold terror suspects for up to 14 days without charge, far longer than the 24-hour limit applied to standard criminal cases.
Following the arrests, a 400-meter cordon was established around a cluster of vehicles in Whelford, and bomb disposal experts were deployed to examine the sites. Aerial footage captured a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot approaching two parked white vans in a nearby wooded area, though police have not officially confirmed the robot’s use in the operation. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the ongoing investigation, and senior officers confirmed the operation was not pre-empted by prior intelligence.
In a statement, the U.S. military confirmed it is collaborating closely with UK security partners to monitor the situation, protect American personnel, their families and local residents, and minimize disruption to normal activity. Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth of Gloucestershire Police told reporters Sunday evening that a large emergency services presence will remain in the area for the next several days, with the force continuing to support Counter Terrorism Policing and liaise with national stakeholders. When asked whether any additional suspects are being sought, Blyth said she believes the situation is already contained, and declined to declare the incident a terrorist incident, noting that decision rests with Counter Terrorism Policing.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the arrests Sunday, claiming the suspects were “looking to do big damage” and adding that “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.” UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the incident as “deeply concerning,” reaffirming that the government would “always take every step necessary” to protect British civilians. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed he had been in contact with his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth, but declined to speculate on potential Iranian involvement while the operation is ongoing, telling reporters at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that it would be irresponsible to comment prematurely.
A total of 85 households near the operation site were evacuated shortly after the alert was raised, with many residents saying they were woken by police in the early hours of the morning and ordered to leave immediately. Many evacuees reported having just minutes to gather belongings before leaving, with some still wearing pyjamas when they arrived at a nearby leisure centre that has been set up as an emergency shelter. Cotswold District Council has arranged alternative overnight accommodation for evacuees who cannot stay with family or friends, and residents were informed they would not be allowed to return to their homes Sunday night. Local witnesses described chaotic scenes, with one resident saying “We just had to throw our clothes on and come. We didn’t know anything,” while another noted “It all happened very quickly. We just packed our stuff up and came here.”