British counter-terrorism police have arrested five men near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and offences under the Explosives Act.
Police said the arrests followed reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the air base at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday. The men were initially detained over suspected explosives offences before being further arrested under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The incident triggered a major security operation, with Army explosive ordnance specialists examining vehicles and a 400-metre cordon established around the area. About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution while authorities assessed the situation.
RAF Fairford hosts US military personnel and has been used for operations against Iranian targets during the ongoing Middle East conflict. Security around the base had already been heightened amid warnings from Iran over the use of British bases for US military operations.
The five suspects remained in custody as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police urged the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.
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