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UK Police Probe Possible Attack on Base09/28 06:40
Police were holding five men on Monday and examining suspected explosives
found near a U.S.-operated air force base in England, as counterterror
detectives investigated whether the arrests foiled an attempted attack linked
to Iran.
FAIRFORD, England (AP) -- Police were holding five men on Monday and
examining suspected explosives found near a U.S.-operated air force base in
England, as counterterror detectives investigated
https://apnews.com/article/britain-explosives-us-air-base-fairford-49495441036e7
8763e106bbeadd1e839 linked to Iran.
The men were detained early Sunday after three vans were spotted near RAF
Fairford,
https://apnews.com/article/uk-raf-fairford-us-air-force-explainer-739a99fedaac75
0343cb01f92a40bc3b that has been used by American bombers during decades of
conflicts in the Middle East.
Investigators have not concluded whether the incident is a state-backed
attack. They are investigating a possible link to Iran, Russia or
non-state-backed militant groups. RAF Fairford has also been the focus of
protests by anti-war campaigners.
The five suspects, who have not been named, were initially held over
suspected explosives offenses, and later also arrested on suspicion of
preparing an act of terrorism. Police can hold them for up to 14 days before
they must be charged or released.
Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford near the
base on Sunday and army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three
white vans. The villagers had not been able to go home as of Monday morning,
and the vans had not yet been moved.
Arrests came after reports of suspicious vehicles
President Donald Trump said the suspects had been detained following
cooperation between the U.S. and Britain, and had been "under view" for some
time. Police, however, said the arrests were triggered by a late-night call
about "suspicious vehicles" near the base.
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting declined to give details of the
operation, but said "it was a proud moment" that Trump had recognized "the work
that our police and intelligence services do every day."
"As and when we can, we will report back to the public about these
individuals and about the nature of the threat," Streeting told Times Radio.
The arrests come at a time of heightened tensions around the threat from
hostile states, with British intelligence services saying Russia and Iran have
both used proxies to commit crimes on British soil. In March, officials said
the number of national security cases involving activity by hostile states
including Iran increased 50% in the six months to December 2025.
Iran has been linked to a series of attacks in Europe
Britain did not join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began Feb. 28 and
initially denied Trump's request to use bases in the U.K. to strike Iran. But
then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed in March to let the U.S. use bases in
Britain for what he called "defensive" operations against Iran's missiles and
their launch sites following Iranian attacks on U.K. interests and Britain's
allies in the Gulf.
American B-1 and B-52 bombers have taken off from Fairford, 100 miles (160
kilometers) west of London, for operations during the Iran conflict.
Iran has said it considers any base used to attack its territory
https://apnews.com/article/diego-garcia-iran-missiles-what-to-know-d51bd9c3bcd83
ee0300288221bff5614?utm_source=gemini#:~:text=61.%20LONDON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Ir
an%20has%20launched,know%20about%20the%20remote%20but%20strategic%20base..
British security officials say proxies linked to Iran have been behind a
string of arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K. and other countries, many of
them targeting the Jewish community. They have previously warned that Tehran
could expand its targets in the U.K. if conflicts in the Middle East continue.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Monday that the incident is a
"reminder of the threats our country faces."
Miliband met Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the United Nations in
New York last week and told him that "Britain will not tolerate intimidation,
threats or hostile activity on U.K. soil," according to a U.K. readout of the
conversation.
US Air Force says personnel remain vigilant
The U.S. Air Force said its personnel based at RAF Fairford "remain
vigilant," but "for operational security reasons we will not discuss specific
force protection measures."
The U.S. Embassy in London has warned Americans in Britain to be cautious
and mindful of their personal security.
Trump said authorities had the suspects "under view for a long time and we
got them."
"It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking
to do big damage to our fort. And working with the British worked out great,"
he told reporters in Chicago on Sunday.
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