US issues warning to citizens in UK after suspected Iran 'terrorist attack' on American base was foiled by hero farmer

The US government has issued a warning for Americans to 'exercise caution' in the UK after an attempted terrorist act near an air force base.

The US Embassy in the UK said the agency had been made 'aware' of the arrests of five men in Fairford who were 'looking to do big damage' to US forces and warned citizens to remain cautious on Sunday.

'The US Embassy is aware of arrests on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, UK,' the agency said in a release. 

'US citizens are encouraged to exercise caution and be mindful of personal security. US citizens are advised to follow instructions of local authorities for their personal safety and security.'

RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, is the US Air Force's command outpost for operations from Europe and has been used for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The base was the subject of a warning from Iran's Revolutionary Guard in July, with the regime warning Britain not to allow US bombers to fly from the base.

President Donald Trump praised the UK police response and suggested authorities already had the suspects under investigation. 

'It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great,' he told reporters in Illinois.

The US Embassy in the UK said the agency had been made 'aware' of the arrests of five men in Fairford who were 'looking to do big damage' to US forces and warned citizens to remain cautious on Sunday 

Five men were pictured as police arrested them on terror charges this morning near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire

Heavily-armed personnel are seen at the main entrance to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire

'It may have been Scotland Yard, I don't know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.'

The arrests are not believed to be part of a pre-planned operation, meaning police were previously unaware of the plot.

A local farmer was said to have alerted police over the alleged car bomb plot after stumbling upon five 'Middle Eastern-looking, masked' men on the way home from a party.

'I just thought what the hell are they doing… I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past.

'Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base. We realised this was something pretty serious,' she told the Telegraph.

The heroic local farmer is understood to have raised the alarm by dialling 999 at 12.45am to report men 'acting suspiciously' around three white vans. Viable incendiary devices and chemicals were found inside one of the vehicles, police said.

She said she had spotted the vehicles 'blocking the road' before seeing a 'large group of hooded and 'balaclava'd' men' while driving home.

Around 85 homes were evacuated from the nearby Cotswolds countryside as armed police and the SAS swooped in while the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team searched for more bombs. 

They were reported around 12.45am by a heroic local who saw them 'acting suspiciously' near three white vans close to the perimeter of the air base, which were later found to contain viable incendiary devices

Maggie Blyth, Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, said the incident was now believed to have been 'contained'.

'These arrests will no doubt have caused some shock and anxiety and we want those living locally to RAF Fairford and across Gloucestershire to be sure and to know that, as agencies, we are working closely together to support them,' she said.

'You will appreciate this is a fast-moving situation and all agencies across Gloucestershire are actively working to respond to our communities' needs and continue to provide information to our communities on a regular basis, we will also continue to assist counter-terrorism policing with their investigation and liaise with other national partners.

'I can give reassurance that we believe the matter to be contained and as a set of agencies working together across Gloucestershire, we are gathering and responding to local intelligence all the time.'

A bomb disposal robot from the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was seen on Sunday moving between the three parked vans. Two vans' rear doors were open and what appeared to be large black barrels could be seen outside.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government will 'always take every step necessary' to protect the country following the major incident. 

He wrote on X: 'I know today's incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.

'My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe. 

'I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out. The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe. 

'The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.' 

RAF Fairford has been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington's Department of Defense.

Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports that RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.

A spokesman for the 48th Fighter Wing told the Daily Mail: 'We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified. 

'Please be assured that the Tri-Base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell) remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors, and their families.'

The resident who pictured the group's arrest told this newspaper: 'I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.

'I couldn't tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles. On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up. They all had their shirts removed.

A shot from the BBC's live feed showed the proximity of the vans (circled) to the air base

Armed police around the village of Whelford, near RAF Fairford on Sunday

'They were instructed to sit down. They were patted down by the officers and then had their shoes and socks removed.

'I think they must have been there for about half an hour. The suspects were then told to get up and were walked round the corner.

'I lost sight of them after that but I presumed they were put in police vans and led away. This all happened just outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford.

'The police are investigating three work vans parked a few hundred yards from my house. We've not been told much, we were just asked to evacuate our homes early this morning.'

Police were alerted to the incident in the early hours by a hero resident who reported men 'acting suspiciously' to police.

Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a local had reported three 'suspicious vans' in the village. 

'Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn't answer the phone,' he said. 'It just rang out so she dialled 999.'

In June, the US government said it would spend around $500million (£377million) on 'expansion and military infrastructure' at the base, understood to include a new hangar complex.

A B-1B Lancer bomber pictured at the air base, which has been used to mount US strikes against Iran since the US-led war began

A month earlier the Royal International Air Tattoo, set to be held at the base in July, was cancelled after the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) said the 'escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East' had required a 'significant increase in real-world operational missions' from RAF Fairford.

RAFCTE said both the Royal and US air forces needed to 'maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base'.

Shortly after the US and Israel began the war with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed in a bid to 'address safety and access issues'.

Protective screens were mounted on the base's perimeter fences in March to stop filming after it became popular with plane spotters when US bombers began arriving.

That month US military personnel at the base were pictured preparing explosives at the base as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.