UK police question five men held near RAF Fairford airbase used by US to attack Iran

British police were questioning five men on Monday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after they were detained near RAF Fairford, an air base in western England that the US has used to strike Iran.

Officers acted on a tip-off that three large white vans were heading to the airfield.

Why were five men arrested near RAF Fairford?

Police detained the men in the early hours of Sunday after receiving a tip-off about three large white vans heading to the military airfield of RAF Fairford.

A local farmer said she alerted police after seeing a group of "hooded and masked men" running into the fields. Officers cordoned off the area, and a bomb disposal robot was seen operating around the vans.

What did Trump say about the suspects?

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been looking to do "big damage" and had been under investigation by British and US authorities.

The farmer's account differs, as she said her call to police prompted the response.

Is Iran linked to the men held near RAF Fairford?

British counterterrorism detectives have not yet publicly said who they believe was involved. A source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely. A Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being examined.

Defence minister Wes Streeting told BBC News on Monday that he would not speculate about the motives of a live investigation. On the general Iranian threat, he said: "We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm. We know that they hate our democracy, and we know that we regularly have to thwart Iranian attempts to threaten either our interests or indeed our allies."

In May, Britain sanctioned 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran, accusing them of involvement in hostile activity. The alleged activity included plotting attacks and providing financial services to groups seeking to destabilize the UK and other countries. Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in the UK and elsewhere.

Why is RAF Fairford important to US strikes on Iran?

The British government had authorized the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Britain in July not to allow US bombers to fly from Fairford. They said any base used to launch attacks would be a legitimate target.

Police have imposed a 400-metre cordon around the base and evacuated residents from 85 homes. Armed police stood guard at the main entrance, and large machinery was used to block other access points. Security was also stepped up at other US bases in Britain.

The government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being regularly updated on the incident. He cancelled attending at least two events at his Labour Party's annual conference on Sunday.