The incident began at about 00:45 BST on Sunday when Gloucestershire Police received information about the vehicles. Armed officers responded and later arrested five men in the Whelford area, about two miles from RAF Fairford.
The men were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act. They remain in custody while investigators establish the full circumstances of the incident.
RAF Fairford Terrorism Investigation
Bomb disposal specialists from the Army have been examining several vehicles near Whelford. Police established a 400m cordon around the vehicles while the examination was carried out.
Around 85 households were also evacuated as a precaution, with residents directed to a nearby leisure centre if they could not stay with friends or relatives. Gloucestershire Police said the incident was believed to be contained and asked members of the public not to speculate while the investigation continued.
Counter Terrorism Policing is now responsible for the investigation. Police have not named the five suspects or said where they are being held.
The arrests followed a report from a local resident who said she had seen several suspicious vehicles and a group of hooded and masked men in the area. She told the BBC that she called emergency services after first trying to contact Ministry of Defence police at the airbase.
The woman said armed police arrived within minutes of her 999 call. She believed the call may have helped prevent whatever activity the men were allegedly planning, although authorities have not publicly confirmed what the suspects intended to do.
Five Men Arrested Near UK Airbase
The investigation has attracted attention because of RAF Fairford’s role as a base used by the US military. The airbase has a long association with the US Air Force and has been used as a staging location for American military operations.
The United States military said it was working closely with British authorities to monitor the situation and minimise its impact while protecting US personnel, their families and people in the surrounding community.
US President Donald Trump said the people arrested were “looking to do big damage” and claimed authorities had been watching them for some time. Police have not publicly confirmed the details behind that statement.
The UK government has urged the public to allow investigators to establish the facts before drawing conclusions. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the incident as deeply concerning and said the government would take necessary steps to protect people.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also thanked members of the public for reporting suspicious activity. He said it was not the time to speculate about whether Iran had any involvement in the incident.
Whelford Residents Evacuated
Residents affected by the evacuation described being woken during the early hours and told to leave their homes. Some arrived at the leisure centre wearing night clothes after being given little time to collect belongings.
Police said displaced residents would not be allowed to return home on Sunday night while the operation continued. Cotswold District Council said overnight accommodation would be arranged for those unable to stay with family or friends.
The operation has created a large emergency services presence around Whelford and RAF Fairford. Police said the response would continue over the following days as specialists examine the vehicles and investigators work to determine what happened.
RAF Fairford’s US Military Role
RAF Fairford is located in the Cotswolds, around four miles south of the town of Fairford. The base has been associated with American military operations for decades, including during the Cold War and the Gulf War in 1991.
US B-52 bombers also operated from RAF Fairford during the 2003 Iraq War. More recently, the base has been used by US forces for operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
The current investigation comes as security agencies examine the circumstances surrounding the five arrests. Gloucestershire Police has stressed that the inquiry remains ongoing and that the full nature of the incident has yet to be established.
