Europe
Trump says RAF Fairford suspects sought “big damage” as UK investigates possible terror plot
Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford on September 27 as British counterterrorism police examined three vehicles. Trump claimed the suspects had sought to damage the base; no motive has been announced.
British counterterrorism police are investigating five men arrested near RAF Fairford after a report that three suspicious vehicles were travelling towards the air base in Gloucestershire early on Sunday, September 27. President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation by American and British authorities and were looking to cause serious damage. Police have not publicly identified a motive or linked the men to Iran.
Gloucestershire Police received the call at about 12:45 a.m. Armed officers responded in the Whelford area and arrested the five on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. Counter Terrorism Policing later said they had also been arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. The men remained in custody while investigators worked to establish what had happened.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Sunday, praised cooperation with the British authorities and said the suspects had been watched for an extended period. Those statements reflect the president’s account; the British police releases did not specify which agencies had conducted surveillance, how long it lasted, or what the men intended to do. Authorities had not announced charges.
Evacuations as bomb specialists examined vehicles
A 400-metre cordon around the vehicles was established while the British Army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit examined them. About 85 households were advised to evacuate as a precaution, and a nearby leisure centre opened for residents who could not stay elsewhere. Police did not disclose the contents of the vehicles in their initial statements.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the inquiry as being in its early stages. Gloucestershire Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone asked the public not to speculate while emergency services gathered evidence at the scene. The cordon was a precaution during the examination of the vehicles, rather than a public confirmation that explosives had been found.
RAF Fairford is a British air base used by US forces, including strategic bomber deployments. Its role has acquired particular importance during the war involving the United States and Iran. Britain has authorised US use of bombers based at Fairford for strikes on Iranian missile facilities associated with attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. That operational context does not establish any connection between the five arrested men and Iran.
British officials had previously said they were prepared to protect the country from retaliation after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned in July against allowing US bombers to operate from Fairford. The police have not attributed Sunday’s incident to the Revolutionary Guards, a government, or any other organisation. Investigators were still examining the vehicles and the circumstances of the arrests.
