{
  "id": 10228140,
  "title": "Air base at the center of a UK terror probe has been used by the US Air Force during the Iran war",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/air-base-at-the-center-of-a-uk-terror-probe-has-been-used-by-the-us",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T14:18:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/27/air-base-at-the-center-of-a-uk-terror-probe-has-been-used-by-the-us-air-force-during-the-iran-war"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British police arrested five men on Sunday, suspected of preparing an act of terrorism and explosives offenses near RAF Fairford, a military base in western England operated by the U.S. Air Force. The base, located about 100 miles west of London, has been utilized by the U.S. Air Force during conflicts such as the Iran war. Three suspicious vehicles are currently under investigation, with counterterror officers leading the inquiry. The 501st Combat Support Wing of the U.S. Air Force's Global Strike Command serves as the headquarters at RAF Fairford, which boasts a long runway suitable for heavy bombers and has been used in military operations including the Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq war, and the recent U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. President Keir Starmer initially denied the U.S. request to use British bases for offensive operations against Iran but later agreed to allow their use for \"defensive\" actions following Iranian attacks on British interests and allies in the Gulf. Anti-war protesters have demonstrated outside the base perimeter fence multiple times since the Iran war commenced on February 28. The arrests' connection to the Iran war remains unclear, but British security officials attribute recent arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K. to proxies linked to Iran, warning that Tehran may escalate its targets in the U.K. if the Middle East conflict persists. RAF Lakenheath, another American base, has also raised its threat level to Charlie, the second-highest alert status.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Five men arrested near RAF Fairford for terrorism and explosives offenses",
    "RAF Fairford used by U.S. Air Force in Iran war, including 2003 Iraq war",
    "Anti-war protests at base perimeter since Iran war began on February 28"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10228140.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Homes evacuated near UK military base RAF Fairford as bomb squad called in",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/homes-evacuated-near-uk-military-base-raf-fairford-as-bomb-squad",
        "published": "2026-09-27T11:34:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "US Air Force coordinating with UK on Fairford base security",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/us-air-force-coordinating-with-uk-on-fairford-base-security",
        "published": "2026-09-27T11:54:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "National Post",
        "title": "U.K. counter-terrorism force investigating ‘major incident’ near base used by U.S. Air Force",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/u-k-counter-terrorism-force-investigating-major-incident-near-base",
        "published": "2026-09-27T13:40:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Air base at the center of a UK terror probe has been used by the US Air Force during the Iran war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/air-base-at-the-center-of-a-uk-terror-probe-has-been-used-by-the-us-10235026",
        "published": "2026-09-27T14:18:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}