Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire after police received a call about three suspicious vehicles moving towards the U.K. base used by the U.S. military. The case is being handled as a counter-terrorism and explosives investigation, with the men first detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and then further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Police evacuated nearby homes and deployed bomb-disposal specialists as officers continued their search of the area around the airfield. RAF Fairford has long been considered geopolitically sensitive because of its role in U.S. military operations, including missions linked to Iran, which intensified attention on the incident.
Counter-terrorism police said the inquiry remained at an early stage and that the five suspects were still in custody. Gloucestershire police and specialist units continued working to establish the circumstances of the incident and assess any risk to the base and surrounding community.