Counter-terrorism officers have been photographed arresting five men following a suspected car-bomb plot targeting US forces at RAF Fairford.
The suspects were found alongside three vans believed to have been prepared as bomb vehicles. Footage from the arrests shows the men shirtless and handcuffed, prompting speculation that police may also have been checking whether they were wearing suicide vests.
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire serves as the US Air Force’s European command base for operations. The facility has been used to support American strikes against Iranian missile sites involved in attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning about the base in July, telling Britain not to permit US bombers to operate from RAF Fairford.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation as authorities examine whether a planned attack was prevented. Explosives specialists are testing the devices recovered at the scene to determine whether they were capable of detonating.
Images recorded by a resident of nearby Whelford at about 2.10am show the men restrained on the ground, their faces illuminated by a powerful light. A separate photograph captures the three vans believed to have been linked to the suspected plot.
People living in the surrounding Cotswolds countryside were evacuated as armed officers and the SAS moved into the area. Army bomb-disposal experts also carried out searches for any additional explosive devices.
A Government spokesman said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being “kept updated” from Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is due to begin today.
Five men were photographed shirtless near RAF Fairford after being arrested under the Explosives Act this morning.
The suspects are believed to have used three vans, which appeared in footage from the morning. Their lack of clothing during the arrests has led to suggestions that officers were checking for suicide vests.
The five men were detained and handcuffed on the road as Army bomb-disposal specialists and the SAS were deployed to deal with the suspected threat.
Armed police were seen around Whelford, near RAF Fairford, during the morning operation.
The suspected plot is likely to intensify scrutiny of the difficult defence decisions facing Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey ahead of next month’s Budget.
Mr Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, initially refused to allow US bombers to use British bases after the Iran war began in February. The decision angered President Donald Trump, who said the former Labour leader was “no Winston Churchill”.
Sir Keir reversed course in March, granting Washington permission to use the bases for the “specific and limited defensive purpose” of destroying Iranian missiles “at source”.
RAF Fairford has reportedly been placed on Delta alert, the highest threat classification used by the US Department of Defense.
Security has also been increased at other American installations in Britain. RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has reportedly been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest level.
A spokesperson for Lakenheath told Our News Outlet: “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified.
“Please be assured that the Tri-Base area—RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell—remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to protect US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors and their families.”
The resident who photographed the arrests told this publication: “I was asleep and was woken by shouting coming from outside.
‘I couldn’t tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles.
‘On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up. They all had their shirts removed.
‘They were instructed to sit down. They were patted down by the officers and then had their shoes and socks removed.
‘I think they must have been there for about half an hour. The suspects were then told to get up and were walked round the corner.
‘I lost sight of them after that but I presumed they were put in police vans and led away. This all happened just outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford.
‘The police are investigating three work vans parked a few hundred yards from my house. We’ve not been told much, we were just asked to evacuate our homes early this morning.’
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Road blocks and armed police have been in place near the base in recent days and emergency vehicles are parked nearby.
A witness said armed police had blocked access to the base’s main gate and around 30 police cars, ambulances and fire engines were in the village of Fairford.
Earlier a vehicle, apparently a tractor, was pictured blocking a gate at the base.
Armed police at RAF Fairford this morning. Officers blocked entrances to the air base, which is operated by the US Air Force
Officers also evacuated nearby homes, with residents taken to a nearby leisure centre
A B-1B Lancer bomber pictured at the air base, which has been used to mount US strikes against Iran since the US-led war began
Emergency services vehicles including fire engines descended on Whelford as the major incident was investigated
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation amid suspicion an active terror plot may have been foiled
Gloucestershire Police said earlier: ‘A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident.
‘It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the explosives act.
‘The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles. The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre.
‘A cordon is currently in place but we’d like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained.
‘We are working closely with our partners and are enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place.’
A US Air Force spokesman said: ‘The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families.
‘We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.’
A vehicle which appeared to be a tractor blocked a gate at RAF Fairford this morning
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said of the incident: ‘We can be reassured that this is being dealt with.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood thanked emergency services in a post to X.
She wrote: ‘I would like to thank emergency services for their swift response to the major incident in Gloucestershire this morning and their reassurance that they believe the incident is contained.
‘Whilst investigations are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
In June, the US government said it would spend around $500million (£377million) on ‘expansion and military infrastructure’ at the base, understood to include a new hangar complex.
A month earlier the Royal International Air Tattoo, set to be held at the base in July, was cancelled after the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) said the ‘escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East’ had required a ‘significant increase in real-world operational missions’ from RAF Fairford.
RAFCTE said both the Royal and US air forces needed to ‘maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base’.
Shortly after the US and Israel began the war with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed in a bid to ‘address safety and access issues’.
Protective screens were mounted on the base’s perimeter fences in March to stop filming after it became popular with plane spotters when US bombers began arriving.
That month US military personnel at the base were pictured preparing explosives at the base as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.
