Five Men Held on Terror Suspicion After Three Vehicles Head Towards RAF Fairford

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after armed officers responded to reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The Metropolitan Police, which leads UK terrorism investigations, said it received a call at 12.45am about three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford, a UK-owned base operated by the US Air Force under a Cold War-era agreement.

The airfield has been used by US forces for strictly limited strikes during the war with Iran. In March, then-prime minister Keir Starmer granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.

Armed Officers Intercept RAF Fairford Convoy

Armed officers arrested the five men in nearby Whelford, a village bordering the base's perimeter. The base houses the US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and 420th Air Base Squadron.

The five men were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. No information has been released about their nationalities.

Vicki Evans, the Met's senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said: 'We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody.' A 400-metre cordon was put in place around the vehicles while the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit carried out examinations.

About 85 households were evacuated, with some residents taken to a nearby recreation centre. Gloucestershire Police described the situation as 'contained'.

Aerial footage broadcast by Sky News showed a bomb disposal robot manoeuvring between the three trucks, two with their rear doors open. Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said emergency services had 'well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents' and warned of a sustained police presence in the area.

Local resident Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said: 'There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there's been a major incident.' The Met said the investigation remained in its early stages, with the five men still in custody.

Political Reaction to RAF Fairford Arrests

US President Donald Trump praised the operation, telling reporters in Chicago it was 'an amazing job' and saying the suspects had been 'under view for a long time'. He also said they had been looking to do 'big damage' to the base.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the incident would be 'deeply concerning' for local residents and thanked police and the armed forces. He urged the public 'not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts'.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has discussed the incident with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Streeting said it was too early to comment or speculate on the underlying motivations of those arrested.

Counterterrorism police are investigating whether there is any link to Iran, although no connection has been established. The origin of the suspected operation has not yet been determined.

National Security Act investigations involving hostile-state activity rose by 50 per cent in the six months to December 2025, officials said in March. In June 2025, members of the proscribed group Palestine Action broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and damaged two Voyager aircraft.

By mid-morning, roads to RAF Fairford remained blocked, with heightened security also reported at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. Investigators have yet to establish whether the vans carried viable explosives or the circumstances behind the suspected plot.