UK police arrest five men suspected of preparing a terrorist act near base used for U.S. strikes on Iran
About 85 households were evacuated as a precaution while Army bomb-disposal teams examined vehicles near RAF Fairford.
The arrests. Police received a report of three suspicious vehicles heading toward RAF Fairford at 12:45 a.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 27. Officers arrested five men on suspicion of explosives offenses, then further arrested them under section 5 of the Terrorism Act, which covers preparing a terrorist act. About 85 households were evacuated, and a 400-meter cordon surrounded the vehicles while Army bomb-disposal teams examined them. By Sunday evening, police had not publicly confirmed explosives, an intended target or who was behind the suspected activity. Conflicting accounts. Trump said the suspects had been watched "for a long time." The BBC reported that the operation was not intelligence-led; a resident described calling emergency services after seeing parked vans and masked men.
PREVIOUSLY
- Aug. 31 — Military leaders warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonged Iran operations would leave U.S. forces exposed elsewhere; the Pentagon called the leak a crime.
- Sept. 4 — Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta criticized Hegseth after six officers were removed from an approved slate of 18 Army promotions.
- Sept. 14 — The Pentagon ordered defense manufacturers onto a wartime footing after U.S. forces fired thousands of missiles in the Iran war.
- Sept. 15 — The Pentagon watchdog put Iran war spending through June 30 at $33.4 billion and identified a munitions shortfall.
- Sept. 16 — The Pentagon inspector general put U.S. equipment losses from Iranian strikes at $3.7 billion; leaked photos showed destroyed aircraft and barracks.