RAF Fairford Arrests Follow 999 Police Call
The RAF Fairford arrests have taken a new turn after one of the five men detained near the Gloucestershire military base reportedly called 999 himself before a local farmer alerted police.
The suspect made the emergency call at 00:45 BST on Sunday, almost an hour before a female farmer contacted police after arriving home and seeing men wearing balaclavas.
Five UK nationals aged between 23 and 25 were arrested after three vans were spotted in Whelford, a village directly east of RAF Fairford. The men were initially detained on suspicion of explosives offences before later being arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Gloucestershire Security Incident Triggers Evacuation
The farmer told the BBC she had arrived home to discover that the road was blocked and a large group of hooded and masked men were nearby. She described it as “pure luck” that she noticed the activity.
“I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had,” she said.
A bomb disposal team was sent to the area shortly afterwards, while police established a 400m cordon around the scene. Searches of the three vans found a quantity of petrol, but no explosive devices.
The five men were released on bail on Monday in what police described as an “investigative decision”. Police said the decision was based on experience and strategy, while the investigation continues.
Residents from 85 homes that had been evacuated on Sunday have since been allowed to return. Police cordons around RAF Fairford are expected to be completely removed on Wednesday.
Counter Terrorism Police Examine Multiple Leads
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said officers were examining “multiple lines of inquiry” as they investigate what happened near the base.
One area being examined is whether proxies or individuals knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state could have been involved.
Taylor said the police response on Sunday morning was based on “a range of information”, following reports involving the three suspicious vehicles and other information received by officers.
“The safety of the public is at the forefront of our investigative decision-making, and this was certainly the case yesterday,” Taylor said.
“I understand why this development was surprising to some, but I would like to reiterate that this is an investigative decision and one which is grounded in experience and strategy.”
The five men are all UK nationals. Four are from Westminster and one is from Camden, while searches of their homes have now been completed.
Their bail is subject to stringent conditions covering their movement and contact with other people as police continue their investigation.
RAF Fairford Role Adds International Attention
RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, US bombers have operated from the base for missions in the Middle East after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.
The incident has therefore attracted international attention. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was “disappointed” the five men had been released on bail.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham chaired a Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon and urged people not to speculate while authorities worked to establish the facts.
The incident has also prompted discussion about a possible connection to Iran. In July, Iran said any base used for aggression against Iranian territory would constitute a legitimate target for its forces.
However, the Iranian embassy in London has “categorically” rejected and strongly condemned what it described as “unfounded and malicious speculations” linking Iran to the incident.
Taylor said the international commentary had heightened concern surrounding the case. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances behind the three suspicious vans, the emergency calls and the activities of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford.