Five held under anti-terror laws after three vans stopped near RAF base

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after they were reported travelling towards an RAF base.

Three “suspicious vehicles” travelling towards RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire were reported to police at about 12.45am on Sunday.

Five men were arrested by armed officers in the Whelford area under suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act.

They were then further arrested under suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.

About 85 households have been evacuated from their homes near RAF Fairford, which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF).

A major incident was declared by police and a large emergency services presence was seen in the area, including a Hazardous Area Response Team within a 400-metre cordon.

Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot inspecting three white vans, two of which had open rear doors. Large black barrels appeared to be scattered around.

Counter Terrorism Policing senior national co-ordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said: “We are in the early stages of an investigation and five men remain in custody.

“As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.

A plane on the ground at RAF Fairford amid the security alert (Ben Birchall/PA)

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“We continue to work with Gloucestershire Police to keep the community safe as we work to gather evidence from the scene.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is receiving updates on the situation.

Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a resident had reported three “suspicious vans” in the village in the early hours of Sunday.

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

He said he was evacuated at around 7am, adding: “(The police) were then banging on the door, so I went downstairs in my dressing gown.

“There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate.”

Meanwhile a woman living on the base’s perimeter described an apparent increase in military security in recent days.

A large military vehicle blocks an access gate at RAF Fairford (Ben Birchall/PA)

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The woman, who asked not to be identified, told the Press Association: “In the prior few weeks they have put heavy, very heavy, vehicles across all gates.”

She described them as “very big tractors and things like that” parked behind crash-gates into the base, adding: “Obviously they’re taking security seriously.”

The resident, who has lived there for about 50 years, also said “great big concrete walls” have been placed behind some gates, including on Dunfield Loop and Whelford Road.

The arrests come amid heightened concerns around the threat from hostile states to the UK, with Russia and Iran among those that have used proxies to commit crimes on their behalf on British soil.

In March, officials said the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states including Iran increased 50% in the six months to December 2025.

In March this year, after then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford and the US started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”.

Police blocked roads that access RAF Fairford (Ben Birchall/PA)

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Investigators will be working to analyse any devices seized from those arrested to establish details of any plot and any potential motivation.

RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk confirmed it is on Charlie alert, which is the second-highest threat level that can be issued by the US Department of Defence.

The confirmation to PA came amid reports that RAF Fairford has been raised to the highest threat level, Delta.

A spokesperson for the USAF said its personnel based at RAF Fairford “remain vigilant”, but “for operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures”.

They said its 501st Combat Support Wing and UK counterparts “will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families”.

The 501st is “the only combat support wing in the USAF” and operates from 10 bases including Fairford, according to its website.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the incident near RAF Fairford is “being dealt with” and thanked the emergency teams who acted “so swiftly”.

He added: “It is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We are grateful to the emergency services, who have acted quickly to detain several suspects and put measures in place to keep the community safe.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing.”