Footage from Britain shows a bomb-disposal robot moving directly toward one of the suspicious vehicles in Whelford, near RAF Fairford, and carrying out a close inspection of the vehicle. (GIF: @ddfmarketing1)
Gloucestershire Police received a call at about 12.45am on Sunday about three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling towards RAF Fairford. Police imposed a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles while the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit examined them. About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the five men can be detained for up to 14 days without charge.
Police have not announced a motive. Reuters reported that investigators were giving greatest weight to a possible Iran link, while also examining whether Russian sabotage or an Islamist plot was involved, citing a person familiar with the inquiry.
Gloucestershire Police said the immediate incident appeared to be contained. Defence minister Wes Streeting said he would not speculate about the motive while the investigation was ongoing. A local farmer told the Daily Telegraph she alerted police after encountering the vans and seeing several men, some with their faces covered, moving towards nearby fields. Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said officers were still gathering evidence and establishing the circumstances of the incident.
A bomb-disposal robot was deployed around three suspicious vans near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by US bombers, after Gloucestershire Police arrested five men who were later held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Armed officers arrested five men in Whelford on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, with Counter Terrorism Policing taking over the investigation. Their nationalities have not been disclosed.
The five men remained in custody on Monday as police questioned them.