British police have arrested five men near RAF Fairford after a cache of explosives was discovered in a Gloucestershire village overnight.
A high alert was triggered just after midnight when three large white vans arrived in the area and triggered the concerns of a nearby resident. The men were held under the Explosives Act and then further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorism act.
Counter-terrorism police were involved at the outset in the investigation and one of the lines of inquiry is the possibility of an Iranian link to a potential attack on the base.
Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said the five remain in custody.
Investigations into the nature of the incident were continuing, the senior policeman added.
The US military at the base was put on the highest level of alert, as the discovery was being dealt with by the authorities. Nearby residents were evacuated, the statement added.
US President Donald Trump briefly addressed the arrests during a PGA golf event in Illinois on Sunday. He told reporters the suspects were "looking to do big damage" to the US military presence in the UK.
"It was fantastic ... working with Britain, it was an amazing job," he added, referring to the potential attack being stopped.
American bombers use the Fairford site for Strait of Hormuz defence operations.
Explosives Act
Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were stationed in the village of Fairford near the base.
“A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident,” Gloucestershire police said on Sunday in an earlier statement, referring to another nearby village. “The army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles.”
Police said the incident was contained, after the men had been arrested under the Explosives Act.
A representative for the US Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures but said: “The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors and their families.
“We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”
American bombers
Britain said in July its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the UK not to allow American bombers to fly from Fairford.
The UK has suffered mainstream opposition to the operations and an increase in attacks traced to the IRGC in recent months. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) said it was “absolutely shocking” Fairford was still being used for US operations.
“The British government's permission to allow the US to use bases like Fairford and Diego Garcia [in Chagos] has helped to prolong this disaster,” CND general secretary Sophie Bolt said. “It is also increasing the risks to the British population, with British bases like RAF Fairford now viewed as a legitimate target.”
British government ministers have also briefed providers of critical infrastructure on the threat posed by Russia, with the government increasingly concerned about possible sabotage operations and cyber attacks. Russia denies mounting hybrid attacks on western nations.
