British counterterrorism authorities arrested five men on September 27 near RAF Fairford in the west of England. The suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism and possessing explosives after police received reports of three suspicious vans driving toward the military installation early in the morning. Police working to understand circumstances. As you would expect we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.
President Donald Trump praised the law enforcement action, calling it an “amazing job” and stating that the suspects had been under surveillance by both British and American authorities. He noted that the individuals were intending to do “big damage” to the site. “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” Trump told reporters.
The military airfield has served as a strategic location for the United States, including providing authorization for American bombers to strike Iranian missile sites used to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In July, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned Britain against allowing U.S. bombers to operate from the facility, labeling the base a legitimate target for retaliation.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans stated that the investigation remains in its early stages. While authorities have not publicly identified the suspects, sources indicate that investigators are examining multiple potential motives, including links to Iran, Russian sabotage operations, or Islamist extremism. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been kept updated on the situation and expressed his gratitude to the police and armed forces, acknowledging the concern the incident has caused for local residents. According to police, who, They believed the incident was now contained, have not yet publicly stated who they assessed was involved. An Iranian-linked motive is considered the most likely, Reuters reported, while a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at.
Following the arrests, a quarter-mile cordon was established around the airfield. Bomb disposal units were deployed to inspect the vehicles, while approximately 85 homes in a nearby village were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Armed officers continue to patrol the immediate area.
Security measures were visibly tightened across several other U.S.-linked installations in England, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, where witnesses reported the presence of armored vehicles and additional military personnel at the entry gates. Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone emphasized that emergency services have established plans for such events and cautioned that a police presence will remain in the area for the duration of the investigation.
The U.S. Air Force did not provide details regarding specific protection changes but confirmed that units based in the UK remain vigilant. A spokesperson stated that the military is assessing various factors to ensure the security of service members, contractors, and their families. This incident occurs amid broader government concerns regarding potential sabotage and cyber threats against national infrastructure, specifically regarding tensions with Russia, which has denied conducting hybrid attacks against Western nations. Our people and their families, we constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations. With the government increasingly concerned about possible sabotage operations and cyberattacks, british ministers have also previously briefed providers of critical infrastructure on the threat posed by Russia.
