British police arrest five men for allegedly preparing a terrorism attack with explosives on a base used by U.S. bombers for Iran war

British police apprehended five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorism attack using explosives at RAF Fairford, a U.S.-operated military base in western England, according to the source. The investigation is being led by counterterror officers, who are searching three suspicious vehicles connected to the alleged plot. Fairford, located approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, serves as a base for U.S. bombers and houses the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing.

It is a vital forward operating location for U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command, featuring a long runway suitable for heavy bombers. The base has been utilized in various conflicts, including the Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq war, and the current U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Although Britain did not initially join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer later agreed to allow the U.S. to use British bases for defensive operations against Iran's missiles and their launch sites following Iranian attacks on British interests and allies in the Gulf.

American B-1 and B-52 bombers have taken off from Fairford for operations during the Iran conflict. Security at U.S. bases in Britain has been heightened, with anti-war campaigners protesting outside the base's perimeter fence multiple times since the start of the Iran war. While it remains unclear if the arrests are directly linked to the Iran war, British security officials have warned that proxies linked to Iran have carried out arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K. and other countries, with the potential for Tehran to expand its targets if conflicts in the Middle East persist.

Some local residents have reported heightened security around RAF Fairford in recent days. Additionally, another American base, RAF Lakenheath in eastern England, has been put on Charlie alert, indicating a high threat level. However, there is no immediate confirmation of the threat level at RAF Fairford, and U.S. European Command declined to provide further details on specific force protection measures.