5 men arrested over suspected attack at a US-operated air force base are British nationals, tell me about this news in (https://www.wgem.com/2026/09/28/5-men-arrested-over-suspected-attack-us-operated-air-force-base-are-british-nationals/)
28-09-2026
According to the report from WGEM (via the Associated Press):
Arrests and Suspects: Counterterrorism police detained five men in their 20s near RAF Fairford, a UK base used by the U.S. Air Force in Gloucestershire, England. All five suspects are British nationals from London.
Charges: They were initially detained over suspected explosives offenses and subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Under UK counterterrorism laws, police can hold them for up to 14 days before deciding whether to file charges or release them.
Incident Details: The arrests took place early Sunday after three suspicious white vans were spotted near the air base. Military bomb-disposal experts deployed a remote robot to inspect the vehicles and examine suspected explosives.
Evacuations: As a safety precaution, residents from around 85 homes in the neighboring village of Whelford were evacuated and remained displaced through Monday as investigations continued.
Investigation Scope: Detectives are examining multiple angles regarding potential motives or backing, exploring whether the suspected plot involves state-backed links (such as to Iran or Russia), non-state militant groups, or domestic anti-war activists, as RAF Fairford has historically been both a launch point for U.S. Middle East operations and a site for protests.