Police evacuate Whelford homes after explosives arrests

On Sunday, police evacuated homes in the vicinity of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and arrested several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act. A major incident declaration was issued in the nearby village of Whelford, prompting an Army specialist explosive ordnance disposal team to examine multiple vehicles under a cordon.

Approximately 30 emergency vehicles, comprising police cars, ambulances, and fire engines, were present at the scene. Residents were temporarily relocated to a nearby leisure center while authorities worked with partner agencies to handle the situation. The police confirmed that the incident had been contained and were following established emergency plans.

Counter-terrorism police led the investigation, though the identities of those detained and the specific details of the arrests have not been disclosed. Both the British and U.S. governments acknowledged the heightened security measures at RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base utilized by the United States Air Force, amid ongoing conflicts.

RAF Fairford has previously accommodated long-range bombers and participated in military operations against Iran. No official statement connected the arrests or the police operation to Iran, but authorities remained tight-lipped about the motive behind the incident.