Five men were taken into custody near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Sunday night after Metropolitan Police received a 12:45 a.m. call reporting three suspicious vehicles moving toward the American‑operated airbase.
The vehicles were later spotted with large black items inside and open rear doors, prompting the deployment of a bomb disposal robot that roamed between three white vans, according to Sky News footage.
RAF Fairford, owned by the UK but operated by the US under a Cold‑War‑era agreement, has been used by American forces for limited strikes against Iranian missile sites since the U.S.‑Israeli war on Iran began on 28 Feb 2023.
Vicki Evans, the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, said police are working closely with partners and have set a 400‑metre cordon around the vehicles. As a precaution, 85 households in the Whelford area have been evacuated while bomb‑safety teams inspect the scene.
Julian Tudsbery, a 30‑year resident of Whelford, told reporters that he had seen the three vans early Sunday morning and that police had sprayed the drive and ordered residents to leave the area.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force confirmed that U.S. and British personnel remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to maintain safety at the base. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the emergency and specialist teams who responded, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s office said the government is receiving updates on the situation.