Stories
Farmer's 999 Call Foils Suspected Terror Plot Near UK's RAF Fairford
- •A farmer's late-night 999 call led to the arrest of five men on suspicion of terror offenses near RAF Fairford, a US air base in the UK.
- •The farmer spotted three white vans and masked men, prompting a major security operation, including evacuations and bomb disposal teams.
- •Five London men, aged 23-25, were arrested under the Explosives Act and for preparing a terrorist act; they remain in custody.
- •The incident raised questions about security around the base, with the farmer expressing concerns about monitoring and delayed evacuations.
- •The US issued a security alert, and additional air restrictions were imposed around RAF Fairford, while Iran denied any links to the arrests.
Key Questions Answered
A local farmer returning from a party at 01:36 BST spotted three suspicious white vans with strange signage and a group of masked men blocking her driveway near Whelford, prompting her to call 999. Armed police arrived within about 10 minutes, and five UK nationals from London were subsequently arrested in the area.
The five men, aged between 23 and 25 and residing in London, were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested for allegedly preparing a terrorist act.
Authorities established a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles, deployed bomb disposal teams with a remote-controlled robot, and evacuated approximately 85 homes. Additionally, the US embassy issued a security alert, and a Notice to Airmen imposed flight and airspace restrictions within a five-mile zone around the base.
