London: The United Kingdom (UK) police on Sunday evacuated homes near an air base in England used by the US, and arrested several men over suspected explosives offences.
The Gloucestershire Police force said that “a number of properties” are being evacuated in Whelford, western England. That is close to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, a base used by American forces during the war with Iran. The British government had given authorisation to the US to use RAF Fairford to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act," the police said in a statement, referring to a village near the air base.
"The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles," the statement said
A Reuters eyewitness said armed police were blocking access to the main gate of the base. Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were stationed in the village of Fairford near the base.
A spokesperson for the US Air Force said they would not discuss specific force protection measures.
"The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families," the spokesperson said.
"We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families."
Britain said in July its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a warning not to allow US bombers to fly from Fairford.
British ministers have also briefed providers of critical infrastructure of the threat posed by Russia, with the government increasingly concerned about possible sabotage operations and cyberattacks. Russia denies mounting hybrid attacks on Western nations.