British police investigate whether arrests near US-run air base foiled
an Iran-linked attack
[September 28, 2026]
By ALASTAIR GRANT
FAIRFORD, England (AP) — Police were holding five men on Monday and
examining suspected explosives found near a U.S.-operated air force base
in England, as counterterror detectives investigated whether the arrests
foiled an attempted attack linked to Iran.
The men were detained early Sunday after three vans were spotted near
RAF Fairford, a U.K.-owned base operated by the U.S. Air Force that has
been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle
East.
The five, who have not been named, were initially held over suspected
explosives offenses, and later also arrested on suspicion of preparing
an act of terrorism. Police can hold them for up to 14 days before they
must be charged or released.
Arrests came after reports of suspicious vehicles
President Donald Trump said the suspects had been detained following
cooperation between the U.S. and Britain, and had been “under view” for
some time. Police, however, said the arrests were triggered by a
late-night call about “suspicious vehicles” near the base.
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting declined to give details of the
operation, but said “it was a proud moment” that Trump had recognized
“the work that our police and intelligence services do every day.”
“As and when we can, we will report back to the public about these
individuals and about the nature of the threat,” Streeting told Times
Radio.
Investigators have not concluded whether the incident is a state-backed
attack. They are investigating a possible link to Iran, Russia or
non-state-backed militant groups. RAF Fairford has also been the focus
of protests by anti-war campaigners.
The arrests come at a time of heightened tensions around the threat from
hostile states, with British intelligence services saying Russia and
Iran have both used proxies to commit crimes on British soil. In March,
officials said the number of national security cases involving activity
by hostile states including Iran increased 50% in the six months to
December 2025.
Iran has been linked to a series of attacks in Europe
Britain did not join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began Feb. 28 and
initially denied Trump’s request to use bases in the U.K. to strike
Iran. But then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed in March to let the
U.S. use bases in Britain for what he called “defensive” operations
against Iran’s missiles and their launch sites following Iranian attacks
on U.K. interests and Britain’s allies in the Gulf.
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Police officers guard a road leading to RAF Fairford, after an
incident in Fairford, England, Monday Sept. 28, 2026. (AP
Photo/Alastair Grant)
American B-1 and B-52 bombers have taken off from Fairford, 100
miles (160 kilometers) west of London, for operations during the
Iran conflict.
Iran has said it considers any base used to attack its territory a
legitimate target.
British security officials say proxies linked to Iran have been
behind a string of arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K. and other
countries, many of them targeting the Jewish community. They have
previously warned that Tehran could expand its targets in the U.K.
if conflicts in the Middle East continue.
Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford
near the base on Sunday, as army bomb-disposal experts used a robot
to examine three white vans. The villagers had not been able to go
home as of Monday morning, and the vans had not yet been moved.
The U.S. Air Force said its personnel based at RAF Fairford “remain
vigilant,” but “for operational security reasons we will not discuss
specific force protection measures.”
The U.S. embassy in London has warned Americans in Britain to be
cautious and mindful of their personal security.
Trump said authorities had the suspects “under view for a long time
and we got them.”
“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,” he told reporters in Chicago on Sunday.
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Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in Liverpool, England, and Ben
Finley in Washington contributed to this report.
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