Fairford: The five men arrested over a suspected attack near a US-operated air force base in England are all British nationals in their 20s from London, British authorities said Monday.
The men, who have not been named, were initially arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later detained on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Police can hold them for up to 14 days before they must be charged or released.
British counterterrorism detectives have not publicly identified the suspected motive. However, a source familiar with the investigation said an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely, while a Russian sabotage operation and an Iranian plot were also being examined.
Police said the arrests followed a late-night call about “suspicious vehicles” near RAF Fairford, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s account that the suspects had been “under view” for some time before their detention.
Trump said the arrests followed cooperation between British and US authorities and that the suspects had been planning to cause “big damage” to the base.
At Fairford, police imposed a 400-metre cordon and evacuated residents from 85 homes in the nearby village of Whelford. Residents had not been allowed to return by Monday morning.
Army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three white vans near the base. The vans had not been removed as of Monday morning.
Security was also stepped up at other US military bases across Britain. Armed police guarded the main entrance to RAF Fairford, while heavy machinery was used to block other access points.
The US Air Force said personnel at the base “remain vigilant” but declined to discuss specific force-protection measures, citing operational security.
The US embassy in London urged Americans in Britain to remain cautious and mindful of their personal security.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting declined to provide details of the operation but praised the work of police and intelligence services.
“As and when we can, we will report back to the public about these individuals and about the nature of the threat,” Streeting told Times Radio.
The incident has prompted heightened security around US military facilities in Britain as investigators continue to examine the three vans and determine the nature and motive of the suspected attack.
(With agency inputs from PTI and Reuters)