British police said on Sunday that five men arrested near RAF Fairford, an air base used by US forces during the war against Iran, were being held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The arrests followed a major security incident overnight, during which residents living near the base were evacuated from their homes.
Police said they received reports of three suspicious vehicles heading towards RAF Fairford at around 12:45 am on Sunday. They have not disclosed the nationalities of those arrested.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, the Metropolitan Police’s senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing.
Aerial footage broadcast by Sky News appeared to show a bomb disposal robot operating between three white trucks. The rear doors of two vehicles were open, with large black objects visible nearby. The robot appeared to be attempting to access the third truck.
Trump praises British police response
US President Donald Trump praised those involved in the arrests, saying American and British authorities had worked closely together.
“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,” Trump told reporters in Chicago.
“We had them under view for a long time and we got them.”
The British prime minister also thanked police and the armed forces for their response and expressed gratitude to residents evacuated while precautionary security checks were carried out.
He urged the public “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts”.
The US and UK defence secretaries have also discussed the incident.
Investigators examine possible Iran link
Authorities are investigating a possible link between the arrests near RAF Fairford and Iran, although no connection has been confirmed.
The nearby RAF Fairford air base hosts US Air Force personnel and serves as a key operating location for American bombers in Europe.
According to the US Air Force, the base houses the headquarters of the 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron. It is also the preferred European forward operating location for US Air Force Global Strike Command bombers.
The UK government has authorised US forces to use RAF Fairford for defensive operations against Iran, including strikes on Iranian missile sites.
In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Britain against allowing US bombers to operate from the base.
“Any base that is used to invade Iran’s territory is our legitimate goal,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. It added that the US had “switched to using B1 planes flying from Fairford Air Base, England.”
The latest arrests also come amid heightened concerns in Britain over threats from hostile states, including Russia and Iran, which British authorities have accused of using proxies to carry out criminal activities on UK soil.
In March, officials reported a 50% increase in national security cases involving hostile-state activity, including activity linked to Iran, during the six months to December 2025.
British security officials have previously linked Iranian proxies to suspected arson and sabotage plots in the UK and other countries, including incidents targeting Jewish communities. They have also warned that Tehran could expand its targets in Britain if conflicts in the Middle East continue.
Police say incident contained after evacuations near RAF Fairford
By Sunday evening, Gloucestershire Police said the situation appeared to be “contained” and urged residents to follow official advice as the investigation continued.
Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in nearby Whelford for 30 years, said another resident had reported seeing three “suspicious vans” in the village early on Sunday.
“There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate,” Tudsbery recalled.
A US Air Force spokesperson said American and British personnel “remain vigilant” and would take appropriate action to protect everyone at the base.
“For operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures,” the spokesperson 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.”