Five British nationals arrested over suspected bomb plot near airbase

The suspects arrested over a potential terror plot near an RAF base used by the US are all British nationals aged in their 20s and from London, police have said.The men were were arrested in Whelford, Gloucestershire in the early hours of Sunday, initially on suspicion of explosives offences and later terrorism.A villager in Whelford dialled 999 after she saw three vans and a group of masked men near the base, and dozens of homes had to be evacuated as bomb disposal teams were called in.Police are understood to be investigating if any potential plot could be linked to Iran, which has used proxies to carry out crimes on British soil in the past.On Monday, Counter-Terrorism Policing (CTP) said that multiple new lines of inquiry have emerged after investigators were working at the scene overnight.CTP Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said: “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.“I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I’d like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety.“I’d also like to thank the emergency services for their response, including the armed officers who first attended the scene, not knowing what they may face.“I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly.”A police cordon remained in place in Whelford (Ben Birchall/PA)PA WireThe five suspects are being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and officers have been granted an initial extension until later today to hold them in custody.They are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.A police cordon remains in place in Whelford and will be reviewed later today, CTP said.Gloucestershire Constabulary were initially alerted to three suspicious vans travelling towards RAF Fairford at 12.45am on Sunday, and it is unclear what action was taken in the hour that followed.Read MoreThe local farmer who spotted the vans and a group of masked men initially called the Ministry of Defence police but there was no answer, so called 999 at 1.36am, and armed police arrived around 10 minutes later.She said the police had “dropped the ball”, telling journalists: “Who knew that a farmer would have to roll their sleeves up and report the activity?”On Sunday, US President Donald Trump told reporters the suspects were looking to “do big damage”, while on Monday, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK must not be “cowed by sabre-rattling from Iran” or allow the country to “dictate our foreign policy” while stressing it was “too early to attribute background aims”.The police operation was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known about any potential plot in advance, the Press Association (PA) understands.A pensioner living nearby described an apparent increase in Fairford’s security in recent weeks, telling PA that heavy tractor-like vehicles had been parked and concrete walls laid behind the gates.Aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot spending hours inspecting three white vans, two of which had open rear doors. Large black barrels appeared to be scattered around.Investigators will now be working to analyse any devices seized from those arrested to establish details of any plot and any potential motivation.A pensioner living near the base described an apparent increase in security in recent weeks (Ben Birchall/PA)PA WireThe arrests come amid heightened concerns around the threat from hostile states to the UK, with Russia and Iran among those that have used proxies to commit crimes on their behalf.In March, officials said the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states including Iran had increased 50% in the six months to December 2025.That same month, after then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford and the US started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”.Separately, a spate of antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in London this year were claimed by a group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (Hayi), which is thought to be backed by Iran.Support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hayi was banned in July by Sir Keir.Under the state threat powers, anyone supporting or assisting the groups will face a maximum punishment of 14 years in prison, but ministers will need parliamentary approval first.