Trump says five arrested near British air base had sought ‘big damage’

According to US President Donald Trump, five men arrested near the British air base RAF Fairford were seeking to cause "big damage". The arrests occurred on Sunday, with the men reported travelling towards the RAF base in rural England. Trump praised the UK police response, describing it as "amazing".

The men were initially reported as "suspicious vehicles" around 12:45am on Sunday, and five men were subsequently arrested by armed officers in the Whelford area. They were suspected of committing offences under the UK's Explosives Act and were further arrested for preparing a terrorist act. Approximately 85 households were evacuated from their homes near the RAF base, which is also used by the US Air Force.

Counter Terrorism Policing senior national co-ordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, stated that the investigation is in its early stages and that five men remain in custody. Evans emphasized that the authorities are working closely with partners to understand the circumstances of the incident and keep the community safe during the evidence gathering process.

The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has been receiving updates on the situation. Local resident Julian Tudsbery recounted being woken by a resident who had reported three "suspicious vans" in the village in the early hours of Sunday. Tudsbery said that when he called the air base police, they did not answer the phone, so he dialed 999 instead. He was subsequently evacuated around 7 am, with police arriving in large numbers and declaring a major incident.