A suspected bombing plot against a Royal Air Force base used by the United States has led to the arrest of five men and an investigation into possible Iranian links.
What happened
British counterterrorism police arrested the five men in the early hours of the morning after a local resident near the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire reported suspicious activity. The men were initially arrested on suspected explosives charges and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.
A major incident was declared, and 85 households near the base were evacuated as a precaution. The army's Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit is conducting examinations of the vehicles involved.
The investigation is in its early stages, and authorities are considering the possibility of both state and non-state actors being behind the apparent attempted attack. The national co-ordinator at Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, stated that they are working closely with partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.
The US Air Force has said that its personnel at RAF Fairford will remain vigilant, but declined to discuss specific force protection measures for operational security reasons.
