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Five arrested near RAF Fairford over suspected terror plot; Trump says suspects sought "big damage"
Three suspicious vans intercepted near the USAF bomber base in England; five men first held under explosives law, then re-arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Why it matters
In the early hours of Sunday, September 27, British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford, the English airbase hosting U.S. Air Force long-range bombers — first on suspicion of Explosives Act offences, then formally re-arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act 2000. Counter Terrorism Policing has taken over the investigation at a moment of heightened U.S.-U.K. tensions over Iran.
How it unfolded
Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said officers received a call at about 12:45 a.m. reporting three suspicious vehicles heading toward RAF Fairford. Armed officers intercepted the vans in the nearby village of Whelford and arrested five men. A 400-metre cordon was placed around the vehicles while the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit examined them, with a bomb-disposal robot seen at the scene; around 85 households were evacuated as a precaution and a nearby leisure centre opened for displaced residents.
The Press Association quoted a Whelford resident who said she made the call after seeing three vans "blocking the road" and "a large group of hooded and 'balaclava'd' men" in the early hours. Counter-terrorism senior national coordinator Vicki Evans said the investigation is in its "early stages" and all five remain in custody; under terrorism law they can be held for up to 14 days without charge.
Trump's remarks
President Donald Trump praised the operation while speaking to reporters in Chicago on Sunday: "It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
Notably, Trump's claim of long-running U.S. surveillance has not been confirmed by British authorities, whose public account says the operation began with a 12:45 a.m. tip-off call from a member of the public. The Guardian understands the operation was not intelligence-led.
The base
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is a forward operating base for the U.S. Air Force in Europe, home to B-1B long-range bombers. This year, with U.K. government authorization, U.S. aircraft flew from Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites used in attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran has said bases used to attack its territory are "legitimate targets." British security officials have warned that proxies linked to Iran and Russia are behind arson and sabotage plots in the U.K., with national-security cases involving hostile states up 50% in the six months to December 2025. Police say the incident is contained but have told U.S. personnel at the base to remain vigilant.
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