Trump says men arrested in U.K. aimed to attack shared base

Armed police officers work on a road outside the perimiter of the RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base after several men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, on Sunday. | REUTERS

Sep 28, 2026

U.K. police were investigating a potential terrorism incident after five men were arrested near an air base used in U.S. strikes on Iran, with President Donald Trump saying the suspects were “looking to do big damage” to the facility.

Trump credited British authorities with foiling the incident early Sunday at RAF Fairford, a key launching point for U.S. strikes against Iran. Police were working to establish a motive for what they considered to be a serious attempted attack disrupted at a late stage, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named discussing an ongoing investigation.

The people said authorities were investigating whether there was any Iranian state involvement, although they cautioned that the probe was ongoing and that a different motive could emerge.

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