2026 RAF Fairford arrests
Suspected attempted terrorism attack in the UK
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On 27 September 2026, Gloucestershire Constabulary arrested five men in Whelford, near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, a Royal Air Force station used by the United States Air Force, on suspicion of offence under the Explosives Act 1875 and of preparing a terrorist attack. The police said the arrest followed a report of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards the base.[1] A major incident was declared and about 85 households were evacuated while British Army bomb disposal specialists examined the vehicles.[2] The next day, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing announced that the five suspects had all been released on bail.
- Whelford, Gloucestershire, England
- 51.689852°N 1.761319°W
  Whelford Location within Gloucestershire | |
| Date | 27 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Type | Under investigation |
| Arrests | Five men |
Background
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station that hosts United States Air Force units, including heavy bombers.[3] During the 2026 Iran war, the base was used by the US Forces for operations against Iran, with the UK government granting permission in March 2026 for strikes on Iranian missile sites.[4]
In weeks prior to the incident there had been increased security at the airfield, including heavy vehicles and concrete blocks positioned across some airfield gates, and increased police activity around the airfield.[5][6]
Incident
At approximately 00:45 BST on 27 September 2026, police received a call concerning three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be heading towards the base. Armed officers arrested five men in the Whelford area, about 3.2 km from the base, on suspicion of offences under the Explosive act, and they were further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.[1][2][7]
Police established a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles, which were examined by British Army explosive ordnance disposal personnel.[3] CNN reporters near the perimeter fence heard what sounded like two controlled detonations from the direction of Whelford.[4]
Investigation
On 27 September, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation was at an early stage and that the five men remain in custody.[1] ITV News reported that the operation was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known of a potential plot in advance and that one line of inquiry was whether representatives of the Iranian government had paid others to carry it out.[8][9][10]
The five men arrested were all British nationals and London residents, aged 23–25.[11][12]
On 28 September, the head of counter terrorism policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, announced that the five suspects had all been released on bail, saying "To be very clear, this does not mean the investigation is over, they are subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others. They absolutely remain under investigation as we explore multiple lines of inquiry."[13][14] The Wall Street Journal reported that the possible involvement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was an active line of investigation.[15] The Times reported that no explosives had been found,[16] and The Guardian reported that the materials found inside the vans were not viable explosives.[6]
Reactions
Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened COBRA,[13] said the incident would be deeply concerning for local residents, and urged the public not to speculate.[3] Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked emergency and specialist teams and said the situation was being dealt with.[9] US president Donald Trump said American officials have been working with the British and that "We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort".[17]