A major incident was declared near a British air base used by the US Air Force, resulting in the arrest of five men on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses.
The incident triggered a massive response, with homes evacuated and bomb disposal teams searching three vans close to the base.
What happened
British police responded to reports of three suspicious vehicles moving toward the RAF Fairford base in western England, arresting five men who remain in custody. The men were initially arrested on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act and were later further charged on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
A total of 85 homes across the local area were evacuated, and a 440-yard cordon was put in place while an Army ordnance disposal team examined the vehicles. Helicopter footage showed multiple white vans close to the base being searched by a bomb disposal robot.
The incident has raised concerns among local residents, with one resident reporting that security measures at the air base have been significantly increased in recent days due to a threat from Iran about six weeks ago.
US and British officials have stated that they will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of their personnel and the local community.
