UK police arrest five over suspected 'terrorist act' near US air base
FAIRFORD: British counter-terrorism police were Sunday probing “a major” incident near a base used by the US air force after arresting five men on suspicion of “preparing a terrorist act“, police said.
British counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected terrorist act near a US air base in Gloucestershire, England. Five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing an explosives offence after police received a call about three suspicious vehicles heading towards the RAF Fairford base. Emergency services were alerted around 3 AM, and 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated.
Army bomb disposal experts examined the three vans, two of which had their rear doors open. A bomb disposal robot was used to investigate the situation, and a 400-meter cordon was placed around the area. The Prime Minister's office confirmed that new Prime Minister Andy Burnham was kept updated on the incident. Gloucestershire Police declared a major incident, and the US base confirmed no personnel were involved.
The village MP, Roz Savage, described the situation as worrying and contacted the police for further updates. This incident follows concerns about hostile foreign state actions, with reports of over 300 drone incidents targeting British military sites in the past year.
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