Counter-terror investigation continues after vehicle alert near RAF Fairford
Constantvpn.com – Five men remain in custody after a major security operation near RAF Fairford prompted the evacuation of dozens of households in Gloucestershire. The incident began after concerns were raised about three vehicles travelling towards the airbase in the early hours of Sunday.
Police declared a major incident following the alert, received at about 00:45 BST. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation alongside Gloucestershire Police, while Army explosive ordnance disposal specialists examine vehicles close to the base.
Residents in Whelford, a village near RAF Fairford, were moved from their homes and told they would not be able to return overnight. Officials have sought to reassure the community that they believe the situation is contained, although the investigation remains at an early stage.
Arrests and explosive offence inquiries
The five men were first detained by Gloucestershire Police on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said Gloucestershire Police would continue supporting Counter Terrorism Policing. She said any formal decision on whether the event should be designated a terrorist incident would rest with the counter-terrorism authorities.
Asked late on Sunday whether officers were searching for anyone else, Blyth said she believed the matter was contained. The men were still being held as of Sunday evening.
The operation was not intelligence-led, meaning it did not begin as the result of a pre-existing intelligence operation. Instead, it followed reports of suspicious activity in the area around the airfield.
Large emergency response around the airbase
A 400m cordon was established around the affected area. Bomb disposal personnel and a hazardous area response team were deployed as part of a substantial emergency-services presence.
Aerial images showed what appeared to be a remote-controlled robot moving towards stationary white vans in a wooded location near the base. Police did not confirm the use of the device, but such equipment can allow specialist teams to assess potentially dangerous objects from a safer distance.
An image said to show the arrest of five men circulated after the operation began. It depicted detained individuals in Whelford, roughly 350m from runway access at Crash Gate 6A. The original source of the image could not be confirmed, although its location was verified and it appeared authentic.
One local woman said she noticed three parked vans and several masked men near the base early on Sunday. She said she initially tried to contact Ministry of Defence Police but received no answer, before calling 999. The Ministry of Defence did not comment.
Residents described being taken from their homes during the night and directed to a leisure centre. Julian Tudsbury said police woke him at 07:00 by knocking on his door in Whelford, where 85 households were advised to leave.
“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 could not provide further details.
Tudsbury said another person in the area had seen three vehicles approaching the base and contacted police immediately.
Another resident, Jeff, said he heard shouting at around 02:00 and looked outside to see men being detained by armed officers.
“[I] looked out the window and saw men were being held by police outside the house. They were armed, it was surreal.”
Why RAF Fairford has heightened strategic importance
RAF Fairford sits near the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border and has longstanding links with the United States military. The base is used by the United States Air Force and has recently served as a staging location for US warplanes involved in defensive strikes on Iran.
Its role gives events around the base wider significance beyond the immediate local disruption. The security response has involved both British and American authorities, reflecting the importance of protecting military sites and nearby communities when a potential threat emerges.
US President Donald Trump said those arrested had been “looking to do big damage”. He added:
“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he had spoken with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth. A United States Air Force spokesperson said personnel remained alert but did not discuss detailed protective measures.
The US Department of Defense also raised the threat level at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, home to the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, to its second-highest category. The change underlines the broader caution being applied while the Fairford inquiry develops.
What happens next for residents
For people displaced from Whelford, the immediate concern is when they can safely return home. The overnight restriction reflects the need for explosive disposal and counter-terrorism specialists to complete their assessment without putting residents or emergency workers at risk.
The continuing police cordon may affect travel and access around the base while examinations take place. Residents have been asked to follow official instructions and avoid attempting to enter restricted areas.
Investigators will now focus on the vehicles, the circumstances surrounding the arrests and any evidence that may clarify what the men were allegedly preparing to do. Authorities have emphasised that the inquiry is still in its early stages, and no further conclusions should be drawn while those investigations continue.
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