Europe · Public record
Several men held on suspicion of explosives offences near RAF Fairford. Homes in a nearby village evacuated.
Gloucestershire Police arrested several men early on Sunday 27 September 2026 on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, declared a major incident and began evacuating homes in Whelford, a village that ABC News put at about two miles from RAF Fairford. The force said an Army explosive ordnance disposal team was "examining a number of vehicles" and that "we believe this incident is contained," according to its statement as carried by Reuters, the Associated Press and the BBC.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, the Press Association (PA) reported, and the BBC later said the same. PA also reported that the operation was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known about any potential plot in advance. Police have not said how many men were arrested or who they are, and by midday Sunday UK time they had not announced any charges.
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire that hosts the US Air Force. After the US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February, the British government allowed the US military to use the base to strike Iranian missile sites, the AP reported. The BBC reported that US bombers landed there in March, after then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer allowed "defensive" US action from UK bases. The AP reported that police did not confirm the arrests were linked to the base.
Why it matters
The arrests happened next to one of the British bases the US has used in the Iran war, and the response reached the top of government within hours. A government spokesperson said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was receiving regular updates, the BBC reported. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said people "can be reassured" the incident was "being dealt with." The US Air Force said its personnel "remain vigilant" but would not discuss force protection.
What is public so far describes a police operation that officers say is contained. It does not say what, if anything, the men intended, or whether the base had anything to do with it.
What is reported
- Gloucestershire Police (statement on Sunday morning, carried by Reuters, the AP and the BBC): "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 offences under the Explosives Act." The force said a cordon was in place, residents were being taken to a nearby leisure centre, and it was "enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place."
- PA (reported by The Independent on Sunday morning): counter-terrorism police are leading the inquiry. The operation was "not intelligence-led."
- Reuters (Toby Shepheard, Fairford): a Reuters eyewitness said armed police had blocked access to the base's main gate, equipment had been placed in front of access points, and about 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were in the village of Fairford.
- The Guardian: Julian Tudsbury, a Whelford resident, said three "suspicious vans" had been spotted in the village and reported to police in the early hours of Sunday. Police have not confirmed that account.
- AP: the men were detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, and police said the situation was "contained." The AP said police did not confirm the arrests were linked to the base.
- BBC (Leigh Boobyer, West of England):
- The men were detained early on Sunday, and a Hazardous Area Response Team was deployed inside the cordon.
- Evacuated residents are believed to have been taken to Cirencester Leisure Centre, about 10 miles away.
- Laura Hall-Wilson of Cotswold District Council said on X: "This is a very serious incident."
- The government spokesperson said it would be "inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing."
- A US Air Force spokesperson said the 501st Combat Support Wing and other UK-based US units "remain vigilant."
- Al Jazeera: there was no immediate information about what prompted the arrests, whether explosives were found, or whether the suspected offences were connected to the air base.
What we don't know
- Motive. Police have not said why the men were arrested or what they are suspected of planning, if anything. An arrest on suspicion of an offence is not a charge.
- Whether any device was found, or would have worked. Police said bomb disposal specialists were examining vehicles. They have not said what, if anything, was found in them, whether any material was explosive, or whether anything was made safe.
- Who the men are. Police have not released the number arrested, or any names, ages or nationalities.
- Any link to the base or its operations. Police have not said that RAF Fairford was a target, and they have not connected the arrests to the base's use in US operations against Iran. The AP reported that police did not confirm a link to the base. Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned in July that any base used in strikes on Iran would be a legitimate target, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera added that authorities have not linked Sunday's arrests to Iran or said RAF Fairford was a target. Nothing public so far ties the arrests to any foreign state or group.
- Why security at the base was raised, and when. Reuters saw armed police at the main gate on Sunday. Aviation Week reported that security at the base was raised ahead of the overnight operation. PA reported that the operation was not intelligence-led. Police have not said what prompted the security change or when it happened.
- How long the evacuation lasts. Police have not said when Whelford residents can go home.
Inference (not a finding)
Counter-terrorism officers leading the inquiry is significant, but it does not by itself mean terrorism charges will follow. So far the only offences named are suspected offences under the Explosives Act. PA's report that the operation was not intelligence-led points to police responding to something they came across rather than disrupting a plot they had been tracking. A resident's account to the Guardian, of suspicious vans reported to police overnight, is consistent with that. That is PA's account, and police have not confirmed it publicly.
What happens next
- A further statement from Gloucestershire Police or counter-terrorism policing on what was found in the vehicles, and whether the cordon and evacuation are lifted.
- Whether any of the men are charged, released or further detained, and under which law.
- Whether police or the government say anything about a connection, or no connection, to RAF Fairford.
- Whether the US Air Force or the Ministry of Defence changes security arrangements at Fairford or other UK bases that host US forces.