British counter-terrorism police arrested five men overnight near a Royal Air Force base used by American bombers, forcing dozens of nearby homes to evacuate while army bomb disposal teams searched their vehicles.
Story Snapshot
- Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a base the U.S. has used to strike Iranian targets.
- Police first held the men under the Explosives Act, then further arrested them on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
- Army bomb disposal experts examined three vehicles as dozens of homes in the Whelford area were evacuated.
- Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation, and all five men remain in custody.
Overnight Call Sets Off Major Incident
Police received a call around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, September 27, about three suspicious vehicles heading toward RAF Fairford. Armed officers rushed to the scene in the nearby Whelford area. Gloucestershire Police arrested five men on the spot and declared a “major incident,” a label British forces use for events that need extra resources and coordination.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone confirmed officers responded to reports of the vehicles and took the men into custody. Investigators later said they were in the early stages of piecing together what happened. “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, a senior counter-terrorism officer overseeing the case.
Explosives Suspicion Escalates to Terrorism Charges
Officers first arrested the men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act. Counter Terrorism Policing then confirmed the men were further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, a charge brought under section 5 of the Terrorism Act. That added charge signals investigators believe the case involves more than possession of dangerous materials.
President Trump addressed the arrests publicly, noting the base’s role in past American strikes on Iranian targets. RAF Fairford has served as a launch point for U.S. Air Force bombers, including missions tied to the conflict with Iran, which adds a layer of international interest to a case that otherwise centers on a quiet English village.
A Broader Pattern of Rising UK Terror Arrests
Army bomb disposal specialists spent hours examining three vehicles tied to the suspects. Officials evacuated roughly 85 homes in the surrounding area as a precaution while the search continued. No injuries have been reported, and police have not said whether they found explosive materials during the search of the vehicles or nearby properties.
#Now#UK: Five men are held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near #RAFFairford. Reuters says an #Iran-linked motive is leading line of inquiry; Russian sabotage & an Islamist plot are also being examined. Police have not established a motive. https://t.co/6Q5IKTI9vN
— Mexico Times (@mexicotimes) September 27, 2026
Terrorism-related arrests across Great Britain have climbed sharply in recent years, jumping from 212 in the year ending March 2024 to 3,061 in the year ending March 2026, though most of that increase came from protest-related prosecutions rather than plots like this one. Most terrorism arrests are made under general police powers rather than formal terrorism statutes, reflecting how often investigations start broad before narrowing. That pattern fits this case, where an initial explosives-related arrest grew into a terrorism investigation as officers gathered more information overnight.
Sources:
reuters.com, abc7news.com, wcpo.com, standard.co.uk, npr.org
