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UK police probe suspected terror plot near air base

By Sohail Khan 28 September 2026, 12:58 pm

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Business News›News›International›World News›UK police question five over suspected explosives offences near US-linked air base

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UK police question five over suspected explosives offences near US-linked air base
Synopsis

Five men were detained by police in Fairford after reports of suspicious activity near an air base. Authorities are investigating a potential Iranian-linked motive behind the incident, which included the presence of explosives. Security measures have been heightened, and residents were evacuated from nearby homes for safety reasons. The UK government continues to monitor the situation closely as US military operations are involved.

Armed police officers work on a road outside the perimiter of the RAF Fairford airbase, after police declared a major incident at the base after several men were arrested on suspicion of offences — Five men were detained by police in Fairford after reports of suspicious activity near an air base.

Fairford: British police were questioning five men on Monday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after they were detained near an air base that has been used by the US to strike Iran.

Officers detained the three men in the early hours of Sunday after they received a tip-off that three large white vans had been seen heading to the military airfield of RAF Fairford in the west of England.

Also Read: UK counter-terror police lead probe into Air Force base explosives threat, 5 arrested

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been looking to do "big damage" and had been under investigation by British and US authorities. However, a local farmer said she had tipped off police after seeing a group of "hooded and masked men" running into the fields.

British counterterrorism detectives have not yet publicly stated who they assessed was involved but a source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, while a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot were also being looked at as possibilities.

Defence minister Wes Streeting told BBC News on Monday that he would not speculate about motives of a live investigation.

But he added on the general Iranian threat to the country: "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 including plotting attacks and providing financial services to groups seeking to destabilise the UK and other countries.

Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in the UK and elsewhere.

BASE CORDONED OFF

The British government had given authorisation to the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

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

Iran's Revolutionary Guards had warned Britain in July not to allow US bombers to ‌fly from Fairford, saying any base used to launch attacks would be a legitimate target.

In Fairford, police have imposed a 400-metre cordon around the base and evacuated residents from 85 homes.

A bomb disposal robot could be seen on Sunday operating around the three white vans, while security was stepped up around the base. Armed police stood guard at the main entrance while large machinery was used to block other access points.

Security was also stepped up at other US bases in Britain.

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RAF FairfordUK police explosives offencesUS air base Irancounterterrorism UKFairford air base incidentIran proxy threatterrorism investigation UKWes Streeting

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