Daily Mail
· collected 2026-09-27 · by Joe Rossiter, Rebecca Camber, James Fielding, Olivia Day
Story summary
In recent days, security measures at RAF Fairford, a U.S. Air Force base in Gloucestershire, England, significantly increased with armed police and roadblocks preventing access to the base. On Sunday morning, British police declared a major incident after suspicious vehicles were reported near the airbase; five UK nationals in their 20s were arrested and later released on bail for terror offenses under suspicion of involvement with explosives.
Local residents noted heavy vehicles and concrete barriers blocking entrances to the base weeks before the incident. Around 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances, and fire engines, were stationed near the base during heightened security measures. The arrests occurred amid increased tensions between the U.S., Iran, and the UK; Iranian officials have denied involvement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a "foreign actor" was involved, linking it to threats from adversaries like Iran, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated there are strong indications that Iran played a role in the incident, despite ongoing investigations. The U.K. and U.S. have been closely cooperating on this matter, with Burnham stating they were “on top of it.”
Written for “RAF Fairford Terror Plot Incident” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 192 other(s) covering the same event.
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Donald Trump has warned the five men arrested over a foiled terror attack at RAF Fairford were 'looking to do big damage' to US forces.
asserted
men → see → forces
Five men have been arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after armed police stopped three vans in the early hours of Sunday.
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police → arrest → Sunday
A heroic local is understood to have first raised the alarm by dialling 999 at 12.45am to report men 'acting suspiciously' around the white vans.
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men → understand → vans
Viable incendiary devices and chemicals were found inside one of the vans, police said as they arrested the men – who remain in custody – on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and offences under the Explosives Act.
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who → find → Act
The US President praised the UK police response and suggested authorities already had the suspects under investigation.
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suspects → praise → investigation
However, today's arrests are not believed to be part of a pre-planned operation, meaning police were previously unaware of the plot.
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police → believe → plot
He told reporters in Illinois: 'It was fantastic.
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It → tell → Illinois
Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.
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it → work → Britain
We had them under investigation.
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them → have → investigation
They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.
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working → look → British
It may have been Scotland Yard, I don't know.
uncertain
I → know → ?
We worked with a lot of them.
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We → work → them
We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.
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we → have → them
Donald Trump has warned the five men arrested over a suspected foiled terror attack at RAF Fairford were 'looking to do big damage' to US forces
Heavily-armed personnel are seen at the main entrance to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
Five men were pictured as police arrested them on terror charges this morning near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
They were reported around 12.45am by a heroic local who saw them 'acting suspiciously' near three white vans close to the perimeter of the air base, which were later found to contain viable incendiary devices
The group were shirtless and handcuffed, suggesting police suspected they may be wearing suicide vests
Responding to President Trump's words on Fairford, Wes Steeeting said: 'This is my first experience as Defence Secretary in responding live to President Trump.
'
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This → warn → Trump
Streeting added that the UK 'had been working closely with our American friends' and he had spoken to US counterpart Pete Hegseth today.
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he → add → Hegseth
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government will 'always take every step necessary' to protect the country following the major incident outside RAF Fairford.
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Government → say → Fairford
He wrote on X: 'I know today's incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.
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incident → write → country
My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe.
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thanks → go → public
I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out.
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checks → ask → homes
The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe.
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we → want → country
The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.
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authorities → remain → facts
A bomb disposal robot deployed by the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was later seen probing the group's three vans, two of which had their rear doors open as black barrels could be seen nearby
A shot from the BBC's live feed showed the proximity of the vans (circled) to the air base
The aerial shot appeared to show US bombers at RAF Fairford distanced from each other on the tarmac. B-1B Lancer bombers, which are understood to have been used for strikes on Iran, cost around $300million (£226million) to produce
Armed police around the village of Whelford, near RAF Fairford this morning
Armed police at RAF Fairford this morning.
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which → deploy → Fairford
Officers blocked entrances to the air base, which is operated by the US Air Force
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said Gloucestershire Constabulary had arrested five men on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and offences under the Explosives Act
A bomb disposal robot from the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was seen on Sunday moving between the three parked vans.
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robot → block → vans
Two vans' rear doors were open and what appeared to be large black barrels could be seen outside.
uncertain
appeared → appear → ?
RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, is the US Air Force's command outpost for operations from Europe and has been used for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
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that → use → Hormuz
The base was the subject of a warning from Iran's Revolutionary Guard in July, with the regime warning Britain not to allow US bombers to fly from the base.
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bombers → warn → base
Footage taken by a resident of nearby Whelford today showed the men in cuffs with a bright light shining in their faces, while another picture showed the three vans they are suspected to have used.
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they → take → vans
Around 85 homes were evacuated from the nearby Cotswolds countryside as armed police and the SAS swooped in while the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team searched for more bombs.
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team → evacuate → bombs
A Government spokesman said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being 'kept updated' from Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is getting under way today.
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conference → say → way
The incident will raise fresh questions over the thorny decisions to be made on defence by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Chancellor John Healey at the Budget next month.
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incident → raise → Budget
Mr Burnham's predecessor Keir Starmer initially refused to permit US bombers to use British bases after the outbreak of the Iran war in February, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who said the former Labour leader was 'no Winston Churchill'.
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leader → refuse → Trump
Sir Keir soon relented and gave the US permission in March for the 'specific and limited defensive purpose' of destroying Iranian missiles 'at source'.
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Keir → relent → source
RAF Fairford has reportedly been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington's Department of Defense.
uncertain
Fairford → put → Defense
Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports that RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.
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Lakenheath → tighten → alert
A spokesman for the 48th Fighter Wing told the Daily Mail: 'We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified.
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measures → tell → factors
Please be assured that the Tri-Base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell) remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors, and their families.'
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area → assure → members
The resident who pictured the group's arrest told this newspaper: 'I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.
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I → picture → shouting
I couldn't tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles.
uncertain
road → tell → vehicles
On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up.
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men → have → road
They all had their shirts removed.
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shirts → have → ?
…and 37 more, not listed.
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