4 minWorld
UK Police Arrest Several Men Under Explosives Act Near US Air Base at RAF Fairford
British police arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offenses near RAF Fairford, a key US Air Force hub used in operations against Iran. Residents in Whelford were evacuated as a major incident was declared and army bomb disposal experts examined vehicles.
British police arrested several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act near RAF Fairford, a US Air Force base in southwest England that has served as a key hub for American operations against Iran, authorities said Sunday.
Gloucestershire Police declared a major incident and evacuated a number of properties in the nearby village of Whelford, about two miles from the base, following the arrests. The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to examine several vehicles in the area.
Authorities did not name the suspects or specify exactly how many people were taken into custody. The arrests were made on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, a British law governing the possession, use, and control of explosive substances.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the situation was being handled, writing on social media that emergency and specialist teams had acted swiftly. «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,» Streeting said.
The UK Defense Ministry said the prime minister was being kept updated on the incident in Gloucestershire and expressed gratitude to emergency services for quickly detaining several suspects and putting measures in place to keep the community safe. The ministry added that it would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.
A US Air Force spokesperson declined to discuss specifics about the incident but told reporters that US personnel at the base «remain vigilant» and «take appropriate actions» when necessary to «ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors and their families.»
The incident drew close attention from counterterrorism officials. Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA intelligence officer, wrote on social media that the counterterrorism world was tracking the story «very very closely.»
RAF Fairford has hosted US Air Force assets and has recently been used in operations relating to the war in Iran. Iran has previously warned Britain against allowing US bombers, including the B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress, to use the air base, saying that doing so would make it a «legitimate target.»
In a July statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the British monarchy against further involvement, accusing it of participating in what it described as recent aggressions by the US and Israel against Iran. The statement claimed Britain had a «dark record» in the region and warned it not to add to its own indictment.
The arrests come roughly a month after Iran-linked hackers were suspected of forcing a small British power generator offline for several days. That shutdown followed weeks after hackers struck more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota, accessing technology used to remotely monitor and control pumps and other equipment.
Minnesota officials have not publicly attributed those attacks. Several news outlets, citing US officials and a leaked industry threat-sharing memo, reported that Iran was the likely culprit. Federal agencies have also warned that Iranian-affiliated actors have targeted similar industrial devices across water, energy, and government sectors, seeking access to the software used to control them. That activity has already caused operational disruptions and financial losses.
The investigation into the Fairford-area arrests is ongoing, with police and military specialists continuing to examine the vehicles and properties involved. No further details about the suspects or their alleged intentions have been released.
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