Five men were arrested early Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, after police responded to three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the military air base used by the U.S. Air Force.
British counterterrorism police said officers received a call at approximately 12:45 a.m. local time regarding the vehicles near the base. Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the nearby Whelford area.
The suspects were initially detained on suspicion of offenses under Britain’s Explosives Act.
They were later further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The identities of the five men had not been publicly released as of Sunday.
Police established a 400-meter cordon around the vehicles while British Army explosive ordnance disposal specialists examined them.
Approximately 85 nearby households were evacuated as a precaution while the investigation continued.
Images from the scene showed three white vans surrounded by emergency personnel and bomb disposal equipment.
A bomb-disposal robot was also seen operating near the vehicles.
Aerial footage showed the rear doors of at least two vans open, with large dark-colored containers visible nearby.
British authorities had not released a full confirmed inventory of what was discovered inside the vehicles as of Sunday afternoon.
The Guardian reported that investigators were examining materials believed initially to be consistent with improvised explosive devices, though tests were still underway to determine whether they were viable.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said investigators were still in the early stages of the case.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” Evans said.
She added that counterterrorism officers were working closely with Gloucestershire Police and other partners to determine what happened and gather evidence from the scene.
RAF Fairford is a British military installation that supports U.S. Air Force operations and has been used by American bombers.
The base has played a role in U.S. military operations involving Iran, making the incident particularly sensitive amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump addressed the arrests Sunday and said the suspects had been planning to cause significant damage.
“They were looking to do big damage to our fort,” Trump told reporters.
Trump praised cooperation between American and British authorities and said the suspects had been under investigation.
“Working with Britain, it was an amazing job,” Trump said. “We had them under investigation.”
The Guardian, however, reported that its sources indicated the immediate police operation began after a member of the public reported suspicious activity, creating some uncertainty over how much authorities knew about the alleged plot beforehand, per Trending Politics.
Investigators had not publicly announced a motive or confirmed that any foreign government or organization was involved.
Authorities were reportedly examining several possibilities.
The incident comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously warned that bases used to support attacks against Iranian territory could be considered military targets.
RAF Fairford was specifically referenced in connection with U.S. bomber operations, though British authorities had not established an Iranian connection to Sunday’s arrests.
The U.S. Air Force said no American personnel were involved in the incident.
Officials at RAF Fairford said personnel remained vigilant and were coordinating with British authorities as the investigation continued.
The five suspects remained in custody Sunday while investigators examined the vans, collected evidence and worked to determine the nature and intended target of the suspected plot.
