Authorities arrested five suspects near RAF Fairford, a British military facility used by U.S. forces
Among the hypotheses examined is a possible connection to Iran. In July, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had warned the UK that "any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target".
The Metropolitan Police of London arrested five men accused of conspiring to commit a terrorist act near the RAF Fairford airbase, a strategic facility of the Royal Air Force used regularly by the United States Armed Forces.
The operation began at 0:45, after authorities received an alert about the movement of three suspicious trucks in Whelford, a locality adjacent to the military site. The vehicles were intercepted while heading towards the facility used by American bombers.
Following the arrests, specialized teams from the British Army deployed a bomb disposal robot to inspect the cargo of the three vehicles. Authorities established a security perimeter of 400 meters and evacuated approximately 85 families, who were moved to a local recreational center.
The five men remain in police custody under anti-terrorism legislation. According to information released after a police press conference, in addition to being investigated for offenses under the UK's Explosives Act, they were charged with "conspiring to commit a terrorist act".
Authorities have not yet identified any state or non-state actor as responsible for the alleged plot. Investigators are working to determine whether the detainees had links to terrorist organizations, foreign groups, or any state.
The Fairford airbase gained significance in the context of the military operation against the Iranian regime due to its use by the United States.
At that time, the British government had authorized its use for defensive bombing missions with B-1 Lancer and B-52 aircraft against Iranian missile infrastructure in the Persian Gulf.
The incident created a maximum alert situation in the Fairford area. In addition to evacuations, security forces deployed specialized units to determine if the materials found in the vehicles could be used in an attack.
The seized items remain under technical analysis while the investigation continues. British authorities are also seeking to establish who was behind the operation and whether there was any kind of foreign sponsorship or coordination.
