UK police arrest several men in explosives probe near US-used RAF base

British police declared a “major incident” near the Royal Air Force Fairford base on Sunday afternoon after five men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, Metropolitan Police said.

The suspects were also arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act, according to a police statement.

Police received a call relating to three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the air base. Police responded and arrested the five men in the Whelford area.

About 85 households were evacuated and residents taken to a recreation center as an army explosive ordnance disposal team examined a number of vehicles. Police blocked off the area but said they believed the incident was “contained.”

“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody. As you would expect we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident,” Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said.

“We continue to work with Gloucestershire Police to keep the community safe as we work to gather evidence from the scene. A 400 [meter] cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the Army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit conduct examinations,” she said.

Security at Fairford, which hosts U.S. Air Force personnel, was visibly increased on Sunday, with armed police blocking access and dozens of emergency vehicles in the area. The Daily Mail reported that the base had been placed on Delta alert, the highest U.S. force-protection level, while RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk was put on Charlie alert, the second-highest level.

“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow U.K.-based wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” a U.S. Air Force spokesman said. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting praised the response. “I would like to thank all those emergency and specialist teams who have acted so swiftly regarding the incident in Gloucestershire,” he wrote on X. “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with, and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”

Separately, a government spokesman said British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being kept updated on the incident.

RAF Fairford has been used by the United States for operations against Iran. Britain authorized U.S. forces earlier this year to use British bases for strikes on Iranian missile sites, and American bombers have deployed from Fairford during the conflict.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned in July that Britain would become a “definite and legitimate target” if it supported U.S. military operations against the Islamic Republic. IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi specifically cited American B-1 bombers using British airbases.