Multiple individuals were detained by British law enforcement on Sunday for suspected explosive violations in proximity to an airfield utilized by the US for conducting strikes against targets in Iran, according to Reuters, as residences underwent evacuation and military ordnance specialists inspected vehicles during the "major incident".
Video: A US armored vehicle at RAF Fairford / Credit: Social media
The Daily Mail posted images of five bare-chested detainees and three vans. Counter-terrorism units led the inquiry as live television showed a bomb-defusal robot handling the vehicles.
Officials in London stated that Andy Burnham, the prime minister, was receiving briefings regarding the situation at RAF Fairford, the facility where the British administration previously granted the US permission to launch operations against Iranian missile installations targeting maritime vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
The Revolutionary Guards of Iran cautioned in July that bases hosting such missions would face retaliation. A Reuters witness saw armed personnel barricading the main gates, while nearby residents were abruptly evacuated. Approximately 30 emergency units clustered in Fairford as a helicopter hovered above.
BREAKING:
These are the vans that the bomb squad is have a closer look at near RAF Fairford in the UK.
RAF Fairford is the base from where the U.S. strategic bombers B-52 and B-1B have been taking off from for striking missions against Iran. pic.twitter.com/XCXBYxLERH
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 27, 2026
"A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act," Gloucestershire police noted, referring to the nearby village. "The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles."
Fairford has supported US operations since 1944, featuring a runway over 9,990 feet (3,045 meters) built for heavy bombers. While former Prime Minister Keir Starmer prohibited direct British participation in Iran strikes, in March he allowed President Donald Trump to launch what Starmer termed "defensive" missions as part of the overall Iran War conducted jointly with Israel and its aftermath, a policy continued under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The UK's permission is meant to help the US ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's continued provocations in the area, which have taken the form of various targeting efforts on international oil carriers, prompting occasional flare-ups between the US military and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
US officials declined to detail security adjustments. "The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families," the spokesperson said.
Army bomb squad probes three white vans after five men arrested following 'foiled terror plot' on RAF Fairford https://t.co/ouIrvMd5ej
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) September 27, 2026
"We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families."
Trump later stated: "Working with Britain, 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. We had them under view a long time and we got them."
Video: social media
London signaled in July its readiness following Iranian threats to target the Fairford base for allowing the US bombing flights. The Revolutionary Guards at the time said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for us", and noted that the Trump administration was "resorting to using B-1 aircraft flying from Fairford airbase in England" in order to compensate for its depleted stockpiles of munitions. The Guards further faulted Britain for the "misfortunes of the people of our region" by "dismantling Islamic countries… imposing despotic governments" and "worst of all" the "disaster of Israel."
The scare comes amid heightened vigilance across Europe over covert "hybrid attacks" linked by intelligence agencies to Russia and Iranian proxies.
