RAF Fairford: British counter-terror police probe major incident near air base

British counter-terrorism police were reportedly probing a major incident near RAF Fairford on Sunday after several men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences. Villagers were evacuated and army bomb disposal experts examined a number of vehicles, according to Gloucestershire Police. A cordon remained in place, and officers said the incident had been contained.

What happened near RAF Fairford?

Several men were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act near RAF Fairford, a base in Gloucestershire used by the US air force. Properties in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated as a precaution, and residents were moved to a nearby leisure center. Bomb disposal experts examined a number of vehicles at the scene while a cordon remained in place.

Who is investigating the incident?

Several UK media outlets, including the BBC and Sky News, reported that counter-terrorism police were leading the investigation, though this was not immediately confirmed to AFP. Media reports described a large emergency services presence, including a Hazardous Area Response Team. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being kept updated, and a government spokesperson thanked the emergency services for detaining several suspects and securing the area.

What is RAF Fairford used for?

RAF Fairford is the UK base of the 501st Combat Support Wing, a US air force administrative support wing. The 501st said no US air force personnel had been involved in the incident and thanked local law enforcement for their swift response. In March, then prime minister Keir Starmer had granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from two UK bases, including Fairford.

Is the incident linked to a wider threat?

The incident comes amid concerns about the actions of hostile foreign states, with Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood accusing Iran and Russia of using proxies to carry out criminal activity on UK territory. Reports earlier this month said British military sites had been targeted by drones more than 300 times over the past year. Armed forces minister Louise Sandher-Jones said the government was taking the threat posed by hostile drones to defense sites extremely seriously.