Five men arrested following suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford

On Sunday, September 27, 2026, British counter-terrorism police arrested five men in the Whelford area of Gloucestershire following a report of suspicious activity near RAF Fairford. The suspects were initially apprehended under the Explosives Act and subsequently held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after three vans were discovered carrying materials consistent with improvised explosive devices. The incident began around 12:45 a.m. when authorities were alerted to the vehicles traveling toward the airfield, which is currently being used by the United States to conduct airstrikes against Iranian missile sites.

Local residents were evacuated from their homes, and a 400-metre security cordon was established as bomb disposal experts examined the vehicles. While police state the situation is contained, investigators are exploring several potential motives, including Iranian retaliation, Russian sabotage, or Islamist extremism. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the suspects intended to cause significant damage and were already under investigation. The five men remain in custody as the police inquiry continues, with investigators currently analyzing the seized materials to determine the full extent of the plot.