UK: 5 arrested after 'major incident' near Fairford air base
Scores of homes were evacuated in the UK town of Whelford, near an air base used by the US military, with bomb disposal teams checking "suspicious vehicles" at the scene. Police said five men had been arrested.
Five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a "terrorist act" after an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, an air base used by the United States Air Force. Counter Terrorism Policing stated they are leading the investigation into the incident that occurred overnight. The police had earlier arrested several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, with the Army examining various vehicles.
Security at the base was heightened following authorization from the British government for the US to use RAF Fairford to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz. Around 30 emergency vehicles were stationed in the village of Fairford, and several properties were being evacuated due to the declaration of a major incident.
The US Air Force spokesperson mentioned they would not discuss specific force protection measures, stating their commitment to safeguarding their personnel and families. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was updated on the situation, and Defence Minister Wes Streeting thanked the emergency and specialist teams deployed to the scene. The incident has raised concerns about the threat posed by Russia, with Britain vowing to protect critical infrastructure from possible sabotage operations and cyberattacks.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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