"Terrorism Suspicion".. Arrests Near British-American Base Used for Striking Iran

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The British anti-terrorism police announced today, Sunday, the opening of an investigation into a security incident near the Royal Air Force base "Fairford" in Gloucestershire, after the arrest of five individuals on suspicion of violating explosives laws, before they were re-arrested on suspicion of 'preparing for a terrorist act.'

According to the police, a report was received around 12:45 AM on Sunday (September 27) about three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be heading towards the base, prompting armed patrols to move in and stop five individuals in the nearby Wilford area, while the detainees remained in custody and under investigation in its initial stages according to the Financial Times.

A security cordon was imposed around 400 meters from the vehicles, while specialized military teams examined them. Approximately 85 homes were evacuated as a precaution to a nearby recreational center. Gloucestershire police declared a 'major incident,' confirming that the situation has become 'contained.'

Aerial images showed a robot designed to handle explosives examining three white trucks, while the back doors of two of them were open.

The authorities have not yet revealed the nature of what was found inside the vehicles, or the identities and nationalities of those arrested.

British media reported that the operation was not based, according to initial information, on prior intelligence, but rather began after a report from a resident.

'Fairford' houses the 501st Combat Support Wing of the U.S. Air Force and is considered an advanced European site for U.S. heavy bombers. Since March 2026, the base has been used for the takeoff of American bombers of the B-1 and B-52 models, as part of operations that London and Washington said were defensive in nature and targeted Iranian missile sites linked to threats against ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard had warned on July 23 that any base used for operations against Iran would be a 'legitimate target,' specifically mentioning Fairford due to the use of B-1 bombers there. However, British police have not yet linked the arrests to Iran or any other entity, nor have they confirmed a direct connection between the detainees and the base.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force stated that base personnel are 'vigilant,' refusing to disclose details of security measures for operational reasons. The Financial Times was the first to report the news, under the headline: 'Arrests on the Pretext of Explosives in Major Incident Near Fairford Base.'