Five Men Arrested Near a UK Base the US Is Using Against Iran. Trump: “They Were Looking to Do Big Damage.”
Sunday, September 27, 2026, ~12:45 a.m. UK police arrested five men near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire — a base the U.S. Air Force has used since February to launch B-1 and B-52 bomber missions against Iran — on suspicion of explosives offenses, later upgraded to preparation of a terrorist act. Gloucestershire Police declared a “major incident” and evacuated roughly 85 nearby households as Army bomb-disposal teams examined the vehicles involved.
President Trump, speaking to reporters on the tarmac in Illinois en route to the Presidents Cup, called the arrests “fantastic” and “an amazing job.” “They were looking to do big damage to our fort,” he said, “and working with the British worked out great.”
- 5men arrestedExplosives Act offenses, upgraded to Terrorism Act Section 5 — preparation of a terrorist act.
- ~85households evacuatedPrecautionary evacuation around Whelford, ~2 miles from RAF Fairford — a leisure center opened for residents.
- 14days' detention allowedUK terrorism law permits up to 14 days in custody before a charging decision is required.
- 0names releasedPolice have disclosed no suspect names, ages, or nationalities as of publication.
RAF Fairford is not an ordinary UK airfield. Since February 2026 it has served as a key hub for U.S. B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bomber operations tied to the ongoing conflict with Iran, hosting the USAF’s 501st Combat Support Wing. Police say officers responded after a report of three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base, arresting five men roughly two miles away in the village of Whelford. A 400-meter cordon went up around the vehicles while an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit examined them.
“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing. “We continue to work with Gloucestershire Police to keep the community safe as we work to gather evidence from the scene.” Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone added that “a cordon is in place as a precaution and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time.”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public not to speculate: “I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents… The safety and security of the public is our first priority.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood thanked emergency responders but declined further comment during the active investigation. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed he had been in direct contact with his American counterpart: “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with, and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”
On the American side, the U.S. Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, which operates the nearby “Tri-Base” cluster of RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, issued its own statement: “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified… the Tri-Base area remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of U.S. service members, U.S. and U.K. civilians, contractors, and their families.” Multiple outlets reported Lakenheath moved to “Charlie” — the Pentagon’s second-highest force-protection level. The U.S. Embassy in London separately issued a security advisory to American citizens in the UK, which is currently assessed at a “severe” national terror threat level.
Confirmed: five arrests, the Explosives Act and Terrorism Act Section 5 charges, the major-incident declaration, the evacuation, the Army EOD response, and the statements from UK and U.S. officials quoted above.
Unconfirmed — reported by unnamed sourcing only: a possible Iran connection, relayed by Al Jazeera as one line of inquiry investigators are examining, alongside competing and equally unconfirmed theories involving Russian sabotage or an independent domestic plot. No named official has confirmed a motive or state sponsor. This story does not treat any of those theories as established.
Older press archives sometimes refer to a group called “the Fairford Five” — but that name belongs to a 2003 Iraq-war protest break-in at the same base, an unrelated case from a different era. Whatever nickname sticks to this investigation, it has nothing to do with that earlier incident, and conflating the two would misrepresent both.
All five men remain in custody and can be held up to 14 days before UK authorities must decide whether to charge them, release them, or seek an extension. Counter Terrorism Policing has taken over as the lead investigating body from Gloucestershire Police. No names, charges beyond the initial arrests, or motive have been confirmed as of publication, and this story will be updated as the Crown Prosecution Service and Counter Terrorism Policing release further information.
Five men are in custody near a base actively flying U.S. bombing missions against Iran, UK and U.S. officials are coordinating publicly, and the motive is still, formally, unknown. Everything past that — who they are, why they were there, whether a foreign government was involved — is reporting that has not yet become fact.
