Brief
RAF Fairford incident: farmer’s call stops suspected terror plot
A farmer in Whelford alerted police to a possible terror attack at RAF Fairford, leading to the arrest of five men and the inspection of three vans suspected of carrying explosives.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A Whelford farmer dialled 999 after spotting suspicious vans and a group of hooded men on the road to RAF Fairford on Sunday night. The call is believed to have prevented a terror attack on the U.S. bomber base used in operations against Iran.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting praised the farmer for “doing exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do” and thanked police and security services for their work. Streeting also noted that Britain’s security services were aware of a suspected plot, though he said the farmer’s information was only a partial picture.
Police stopped three white vans travelling towards the base at about 12:45 am, arrested five men on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences, and declared a major incident. A 400‑metre cordon was erected and 85 households within that radius were evacuated. A bomb disposal robot spent hours inspecting the vans, finding black barrels and other suspicious items.
Local residents reported increased security measures around the base in recent weeks, including heavy tractor‑like vehicles parked and concrete walls laid behind gates. The Army’s ordnance disposal unit continued to examine the vehicles into the evening.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the incident “deeply concerning” and said the government would take every step necessary to protect people. Investigators are analysing seized devices to establish details of any plot and potential motivation.
Key facts
- Five men arrested near RAF Fairford after three suspicious vans were spotted (standard.co.uk)
- A 400‑metre cordon was erected and 85 households were evacuated (standard.co.uk)
- A bomb disposal robot inspected the vans and found black barrels (standard.co.uk)
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer for alerting authorities (standard.co.uk)
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the incident deeply concerning (standard.co.uk)
Background
The incident follows heightened security concerns over hostile state threats and U.S. military operations in the UK.
Why it matters
The event underscores the vulnerability of U.S. military bases in the UK to foreign terrorist threats.
What happens next
Investigators will analyse seized devices to determine the plot’s details and motivation.
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “'Thank you': minister hails farmer who sounded alarm on 'terror attack' at RAF base”
