An alleged plot targeting RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire was thwarted after one of the men arrested over the incident called police on himself, it is understood.
Five British nationals were detained near the air base in the early hours of Sunday after armed officers were dispatched to respond to reports of suspected explosive activity and terrorism-linked offences. The men were later released on police bail.
Police Response Triggered by Suspect’s Call
It is understood that one of the five suspects contacted the emergency services by dialling 999 in the early hours of Sunday. Police then mobilised, with armed officers racing to the scene to identify and round up the group.
About an hour later, a local farmer driving home also dialled 999 after finding three vans blocking a road near RAF Fairford.
The Times reported that officers were already on site at the time of the farmer’s call, because of the earlier emergency call from one of the suspects.
The farmer said he saw “eight to 10 masked men” moving through nearby fields and woods. It is understood that those figures were armed police.
Vans Prompted Security Alert
Detectives subsequently arrested the five men on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism offences. The base has been used in recent months by US bombers to carry out airstrikes against Iran.
Later updates indicated that the threat had not involved explosive devices in the vehicles.
On Tuesday, Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police had found no improvised explosive devices in the three vans discovered near RAF Fairford at the weekend. He said, however, that a quantity of petrol had been recovered.
Picture courtesy of Manchester Evening News
Mr Taylor said the five men were released on police bail on Monday. He added that they remain under investigation and are subject to strict conditions while enquiries continue.
“The safety of the public is at the forefront of our investigative decision making, and this was certainly the case yesterday,” Mr Taylor said. He also said the decision to grant bail would come as a surprise to some, but described it as grounded in policing powers and experience.
RAF Fairford/File photo
US Official Raises Foreign Actor Claim
The incident followed remarks by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who said the suspected plot “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”. In a TV interview, Rubio referenced Iran by name, saying it had threatened to attack US interests, but did not attribute the weekend case directly to Tehran.
Iran has denied any involvement.
Detectives are also set to examine whether the actions of the men meet the threshold under the National Security Act, the Times reported. Under the legislation, penalties can be up to 14 years in prison for espionage, sabotage, or physical acts carried out on behalf of a hostile state such as Iran. The act can apply even if the accused did not know they were acting on behalf of such a state.
Return to Normal for Nearby Residents
Villagers living near RAF Fairford, including dozens of people evacuated on Sunday morning, were returning to normal on Tuesday as the investigation continued.
Police have not said why the suspect dialled emergency services, but the case remains under investigation with the men on bail.
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30 September 2026
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