US President Donald Trump said suspects arrested in the UK were looking to do “big damage”, after British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford, a military base operated by the US Air Force.
Trump also described the arrests as “a great thing”, according to Reuters. UK police said they had arrested five men near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism and explosives offences.
Three suspicious vehicles were being searched and counter-terrorism officers were leading the investigation, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities have not said what the suspects were allegedly planning to target, and there was no immediate confirmation that the arrests were linked to the US military presence at the base or the war in Iran.
Why RAF Fairford matters
RAF Fairford, about 100 miles (160 km) west of London, is used by the US Air Force and is home to the headquarters of the US Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing. Its long runway makes it suitable for heavy bombers and the base has been used during several US military operations, according to the AP.
The base was also used by American B-1 and B-52 bombers during the US-Israeli war on Iran this year.
Britain initially declined Trump's request to use UK bases for strikes on Iran, but then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer later agreed to allow US forces to use British bases for “defensive” operations against Iranian missiles and their launch sites following attacks on UK interests and allies in the Gulf.
It remains unclear whether Sunday's arrests have any connection to the Iran conflict.
Security concerns around US bases
The arrests come amid heightened security concerns around US military facilities in Britain. Local residents told the AP that security around RAF Fairford appeared to have increased in recent days, with heavy vehicles positioned across entrance gates.
Another US base in Britain, RAF Lakenheath, has been placed on “Charlie” alert, the second-highest threat level used by the US Department of Defense. The level applies when an incident or intelligence indicates that some form of terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is likely.
There was no immediate confirmation that RAF Fairford was under the same threat level. US European Command declined to discuss specific force-protection measures, according to the report.
British police also said 85 households had been advised to evacuate as part of the operation.
