After three “suspicious vehicles” were spotted heading toward the U.K. base on Sept. 27, authorities evacuated residents and used a bomb disposal robot to investigate
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NEED TO KNOW
- Five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act near an air force base used by U.S. forces in the U.K. on Sept. 27
- “They were looking to do big damage to our fort,” Donald Trump said of the men, who remain in custody as counterterrorism police investigate
- Authorities evacuated homes and used a bomb disposal robot to examine the “suspicious vehicles” spotted heading toward the base
Five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a British village near an air force base used by U.S. bombers. President Donald Trump says the men “were looking to do big damage.”
British counterterrorism police are investigating after the men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 27, on suspicion of “committing offenses under the Explosives Act” near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base in the village of Whelford, England, according to British authorities.
Around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, police were alerted to three “suspicious vehicles” that appeared to be traveling toward the air base used by American bombers, according to Metropolitan Police and the Gloucestershire Constabulary. Per NBC News, the U.S. Air Force has been using the British facility to facilitate strikes on Iran.
“Armed officers responded and five men were arrested in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act,” Metropolitan Police said on Sunday. “They were further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act.”
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Images shared by the Daily Mail show five shirtless men sitting in the road while being handcuffed. The outlet also shared images of the “suspicious vehicles,” which appear to be plain, unmarked white vans.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans additionally said in a statement Sunday: “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody. As you would expect we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.”
Police did not provide any additional details about the men or what authorities believe they were attempting to do.
In his first comments on the attempted terror attack at RAF Fairford, the president, 80, told reporters in Illinois on Sunday: “The arrests in the U.K. was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.”
“They were looking to do big damage to our fort,” Trump continued. “And working with the British worked out great. It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”
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Around 85 homes in the area were evacuated amid ongoing investigations in Whelford near the air base, British authorities said.
These examinations included a bomb disposal robot, according to several outlets, including the Daily Mail. The robot was reportedly seen roaming between the three vans.
“A 400m cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit conduct examinations,” Evans said in a statement. “As a precaution, around 85 households have been evacuated while these examinations take place.”
For anyone displaced amid the ongoing investigations, Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone shared that “a nearby leisure centre has been opened for those unable to stay with friends and family.”
“We’d like to thank the residents who have left their homes this morning for their understanding and support,” Ocone continued in his statement. “We appreciate the disruption this will have caused and would like to reassure them we are working as quickly as we can to get them back in their properties.”
Credit: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty
The assistant chief constable warned residents who live near RAF Fairford that as authorities continue to investigate, they can “expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time.”
“Work to establish the full nature of this incident is ongoing and we are in constant communication with our partners locally and nationally,” Ocone said.
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A U.S. Air Force spokesperson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sept. 27.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is also aware of the incident, he confirmed in a statement shared on X.
“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,” said the PM. “The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
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