Five men arrested near RAF Fairford on terrorism and explosives charges

British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford air base in Gloucestershire early on September 27, 2026. Officers received a call at 12:45 a.m. reporting three suspicious vehicles moving toward the base. White vans carrying barrels were found at the scene, and some barrels had already been removed. Army bomb disposal teams were sent to check the vehicles. Police declared a major incident and evacuated homes in the nearby village of Whelford. The five men were arrested under terrorism and explosives laws. RAF Fairford is a British base that the U.S. military uses under an old agreement. Since March 2026, American bombers there have carried out strikes on Iranian missile sites. Iran has said that bases used to attack it are valid targets.