Plot Twist at RAF Fairford: One of the Suspects Called 999 Himself Before Arrest

One of five men arrested near RAF Fairford called 999 himself before police detained the group in a major counter-terrorism investigation, adding an unexpected twist to the security scare surrounding the US-operated airbase.

The suspect called emergency services shortly before the arrests, with police receiving information about three vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford from around 00:45 on Sunday, 27 September. Police have not publicly disclosed why the suspect called 999 or precisely what he told the emergency operator.

Suspect Made One of the First Known 999 Calls

The revelation complicates the initial picture of how the police operation began.

A farmer living near Whelford previously said she returned home to find her road blocked and saw a group of hooded and masked men. She contacted police and later said she believed her call had disrupted whatever was happening.

However, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the response resulted from a 'range of information'.

The suspect's call was reportedly among the information received before the police operation unfolded. Armed officers subsequently arrested five British nationals aged between 23 and 25 in the Whelford area. Four live in Westminster and one in Camden.

They were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act. The men have not been charged, remain under investigation, and are subject to strict bail conditions.

No Improvised Explosive Devices Found

The arrests triggered a major security operation around RAF Fairford, including the deployment of bomb disposal specialists and the establishment of a 400-metre cordon. Residents from 85 homes were evacuated as investigators examined three vans linked to the incident.

Counter Terrorism Policing said extensive examinations involving military and forensic specialists found no improvised explosive devices inside the vehicles.

Police did, however, recover a quantity of petrol.

The five suspects were released on conditional bail following extensive interviews. Taylor stressed that they 'absolutely remain under investigation' and said their bail includes stringent restrictions on movement and contact with others. He described releasing them as an 'investigative decision' grounded in police experience and strategy.

Investigators Examine Possible Foreign-State Link

Investigators are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including whether anyone involved was knowingly or unknowingly acting on behalf of a foreign state.

No foreign government's involvement has been publicly established by investigators. RAF Fairford has hosted US military operations for decades and has recently been used by American bombers operating in the Middle East.

The investigation has attracted international attention. US officials have publicly commented on the incident, while British authorities have urged against speculation before investigators establish the circumstances.

Iran's embassy in London has categorically rejected speculation connecting Tehran to the incident.

Police searches of the five men's London homes have now concluded, while cordons around RAF Fairford are expected to be completely lifted on Wednesday. What remains unexplained is one of the earliest events in the timeline: why a man who would soon become a suspect in a terrorism investigation was himself among the first people to call the police.