Donald Trump has warned that the five men arrested over a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford appeared intent on causing “big damage” to US forces stationed at the base.
Speaking to reporters, the US president praised the joint operation with British authorities, saying: “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,” Trump said.
He added that Scotland Yard may have been involved, saying: “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 president said.
Dramatic images show counter-terrorism officers arresting five men while an Army bomb-disposal robot searched three vans in connection with the suspected attack at RAF Fairford. Police were first alerted by a nearby resident.
The local resident is understood to have called the air base without success before dialling 999 at 12.45am. She reported seeing men “acting suspiciously” around the white vans, triggering a major counter-terror operation.
Footage showed the suspects shirtless and handcuffed as they sat on the road, a detail that indicated officers may have feared they were wearing suicide vests.
Donald Trump has warned that the five men detained over a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford appeared to be targeting US forces
Police arrested five men on terror-related charges near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
A local resident reported the men at about 12.45am after seeing them “acting suspiciously” beside three white vans near the air base perimeter; viable incendiary devices were later discovered inside the vehicles
The suspects were seen shirtless and handcuffed, suggesting officers may have believed they could be wearing suicide vests
An Army bomb-disposal robot was deployed to examine the three vans, with two rear doors open and large black barrels visible nearby
Police said viable incendiary devices and chemicals were found inside one of the vans. The men, who remain in custody, were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and committing offences under the Explosives Act.
The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team sent a robot between the three parked vehicles. The rear doors of two vans were open, while what appeared to be large black barrels lay outside.
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire serves as the US Air Force’s command outpost for European operations. The base has also been used for American strikes against Iranian missile sites involved in attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning about the base in July, telling Britain not to permit US bombers to launch missions from RAF Fairford.
The arrests are not thought to have resulted from a pre-planned police operation, suggesting authorities were not previously aware of the alleged plot.
Video recorded by a resident in nearby Whelford showed the handcuffed men with a bright light trained on their faces. Another image captured the three vans believed to have been used by the suspects.
About 85 homes in the surrounding Cotswolds countryside were evacuated as armed officers and the SAS moved into the area, while the Army’s specialist bomb-disposal unit searched for any additional devices.
A Government spokesman said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being ‘kept updated’ from Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is getting under way today.
A shot from the BBC’s live feed showed the proximity of the vans (circled) to the air base
The aerial shot appeared to show US bombers at RAF Fairford distanced from each other on the tarmac. B-1B Lancer bombers, which are understood to have been used for strikes on Iran, cost around $300million (£226million) to produce
Armed police around the village of Whelford, near RAF Fairford this morning
Armed police at RAF Fairford this morning. Officers blocked entrances to the air base, which is operated by the US Air Force
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said Gloucestershire Constabulary had arrested five men on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and offences under the Explosives Act
The incident will raise fresh questions over the thorny decisions to be made on defence by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Chancellor John Healey at the Budget next month.
Mr Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer initially refused to permit US bombers to use British bases after the outbreak of the Iran war in February, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who said the former Labour leader was ‘no Winston Churchill’.
Sir Keir soon relented and gave the US permission in March for the ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ of destroying Iranian missiles ‘at source’.
RAF Fairford has reportedly 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.
‘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.’
Officers evacuated 85 nearby homes, with residents taken to a nearby leisure centre
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.’
Road blocks and armed police have been in place near the base in recent days and emergency vehicles are parked nearby.
A witness said armed police had blocked access to the base’s main gate and around 30 police cars, ambulances and fire engines were in the village of Fairford.
Earlier a vehicle, apparently a tractor, was pictured blocking a gate at the base.
Outside the leisure centre to which residents were evacuated earlier, one of their number said he heard a helicopter over Whelford at 1.30am.
Jason, who did not want to give his surname, said there were messages on a village group chat about vans blocking a lane nearby.
The 50-year-old said he went to bed before being woken at 6am by police at his door and evacuated.
Having lived in the village for three years, he said he found it ‘pretty safe’ but added some other residents had noticed increased police patrols recently.
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
Security has been tightened at other US-operated air bases in Britain, including at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, where armoured vehicles and armed police could be seen this afternoon
Gloucestershire Constabulary said earlier: ‘A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident.
‘It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the explosives act.
‘The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles. The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre.
‘A cordon is currently in place but we’d like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained.
‘We are working closely with our partners and are enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place.’
A US Air Force spokesman said: ‘The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families.
‘We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.’
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said of the incident: ‘We can be reassured that this is being dealt with.’
Speaking at an event on the fringe of the Labour Party conference, he added: ‘We can be extremely proud of, and grateful for, the swift response of the emergency service and the security services.
‘It’s a reminder of the threats this country faces on a daily basis and the extraordinary people we have to response to this threats when they materialise.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the incident was ‘contained’ on X.
She wrote: ‘I would like to thank emergency services for their swift response to the major incident in Gloucestershire this morning and their reassurance that they believe the incident is contained.
‘Whilst investigations are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
Emergency services vehicles including fire engines descended on Whelford as the major incident was investigated
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation amid suspicion an active terror plot may have been foiled
A vehicle which appeared to be a tractor blocked a gate at RAF Fairford this morning
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 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.
