British police have arrested several men on suspicion of explosives-related offences near RAF Fairford, a military airbase in southwest England used by the US Air Force, as authorities declared a major incident and evacuated nearby residents.
Gloucestershire Police said properties in the Whelford area were evacuated following the arrests. The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to examine a number of vehicles as armed officers secured the area.
Police said the incident was contained, while emergency services maintained a significant presence around Fairford. A Reuters witness reported that armed police had blocked access to the main gate of the base and that residents from a nearby village had been moved to a leisure centre.
The arrests come amid heightened security around RAF Fairford, which is used by US forces. Britain has authorised the United States to use the base for operations involving strikes on Iranian missile sites, according to the supplied report. Iranian Revolutionary Guards had previously warned that bases used for such operations could be considered legitimate targets.
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A US Air Force spokesperson declined to comment on specific force-protection measures but said the 501st Combat Support Wing and other UK-based units remained vigilant and would take appropriate steps to protect 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,” the spokesperson said.
British authorities have previously said they were prepared to respond to potential attacks following warnings concerning the use of RAF Fairford by US aircraft.
The UK government has also briefed critical-infrastructure providers about potential threats from Russia, including concerns over sabotage and cyberattacks. Moscow has denied accusations of conducting hybrid attacks against Western countries.
Police have not publicly said whether the arrests are connected to any specific threat against RAF Fairford or US military operations. The investigation remains ongoing.
