British police arrest five men on terror suspicion near US airbase used for Iran strikes

From London By Daniel Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

A major security incident near one of the United Kingdom's most important military bases caused significant disruption on Sunday. Prime Minister Andy Burnham abruptly cancelled all appointments and his trip to the start of the ruling Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, following the arrest of five men on suspicion of terrorism near RAF Fairford in western England.

According to Gloucestershire Police, where Fairford is located, British security forces responded around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday to an emergency call reporting three suspicious vehicles heading toward the base. The three white vans were stopped on a small country road near the village of Whelford, directly adjacent to the base.

Five men found near the vehicles were arrested as specialist teams and army explosive detection units arrived at the scene. Robots were deployed to examine the vehicles. Approximately 85 households were evacuated overnight. Dozens of police and emergency vehicles were stationed in the area on standby.

Background on RAF Fairford

RAF Fairford is located in the rural, idyllic Cotswold region of England, roughly 30 kilometers north of Swindon. The Royal Air Force base serves as the primary European hub for US long-range bombers. It was used by US forces in the spring as a staging base before and after strikes on Iran, with B-52 and B-1 heavy bombers operating from the site.

Heightened Security Measures

Roads around Fairford have been closed to the public since late February, when US strikes on Iran began. Visual barriers have been erected to prevent outside observation of takeoffs and landings. In June, the US military announced plans to expand its facilities on the base.

The Iranian government in July designated bases used for strikes against Iran as legitimate targets.

Police stated on Sunday afternoon that a security cordon had been established around the vehicles as investigations continued. The probe is now being conducted jointly with the UK's counter-terrorism unit. Photos circulating on social media on Sunday morning showed the suspects sitting on the ground after their arrest, with some images depicting them stripped to the waist—suggesting suspicion of explosive vests.

By midday, British police reported the situation was under control. However, the United States declared the highest alert level for Fairford, and enhanced security measures have been implemented at other military installations as well.

Broader Threat Context

The UK has been on high alert since last year, with terrorist attacks officially assessed as highly likely. MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned last year that he was seeing more attempted attacks on the United Kingdom than ever before. He specifically cited Iran, as well as Russian actors and pro-Palestinian activists.

In 2025, activists from the group Palestine Action breached RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire—just 20 kilometers from Fairford—and caused damage to British refueling aircraft.

In August, the Ministry of Defence reported approximately 340 drone incidents near British military infrastructure over the previous twelve months—three times the number recorded two years earlier.