RAF Fairford Arrests Spark UK Terrorism Investigation

UK police confirmed RAF Fairford arrests early Sunday, detaining five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near an air base used by the United States during its war with Iran.

Suspicious vehicles near the base

London’s Metropolitan Police, which leads on potential terrorism cases, said officers received a call at 12:45 a.m. about three suspicious vehicles appearing to head toward the base. The five men were initially arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act in the Whelford area, which backs onto RAF Fairford, home to the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron. The base is U.K.-owned and U.S.-operated under a Cold War-era agreement.

Fairford has been used for limited U.S. strikes during the Iran war. After the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran began on February 28, the U.K. government allowed American forces to use the base to strike Iranian missile sites, though Iran has said bombers flying from Fairford have carried out strikes beyond that original scope. Police did not disclose the nationality of those arrested.

“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner. “As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.”

A 400-meter cordon and evacuations

Evans said a 400-meter cordon was placed around the three vehicles that raised suspicion while the army examines them, and about 85 households were evacuated as a precaution. Aerial footage from Sky News appeared to show a bomb disposal robot working near three white trucks, with the rear doors of two open and large black items visible inside. Gloucestershire Police said the situation appeared “contained.”

A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said American and British personnel “remain vigilant” and will take appropriate action to keep everyone at the base safe, adding that specific force protection measures would not be discussed “for operational security reasons.”

Arrests come amid rising hostile-state threats

The arrests come amid heightened concern over threats to the U.K. from hostile states, with Russia and Iran among those that have used proxies to carry out crimes on British soil. Officials said in March that national security cases involving hostile-state activity, including from Iran, rose 50% in the six months to December 2025.

Residents evacuated from Whelford were taken to a nearby recreation center. Julian Tudsbery, a 30-year resident, said a neighbor reported three “suspicious vans” in the village in the early hours of Sunday. “There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident,” he said, adding that officers couldn’t elaborate.

U.K. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the emergency and specialist teams who responded, saying, “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s office said he is receiving updates on the situation.