The US government has urged American citizens in the UK to remain vigilant following the arrest of five individuals and an alleged attempted terrorist plot near an airbase. On Sunday, the US Embassy in the UK stated it was aware of the arrests made at Fairford, involving five people suspected of plotting to cause significant damage to US military assets. US citizens have been advised to exercise caution in the wake of this incident. The Daily Mail reported the story online. In its statement, the embassy called on US citizens to stay alert and be mindful of their personal safety, advising them to follow the instructions of local authorities.
Notably, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire serves as a key base for US Air Force operations across Europe. It has previously been used for US strikes against Iranian missile sites following attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had issued a warning regarding this base.
At that time, Iran warned the UK not to allow US bombers to take off from the base. President Donald Trump praised the role of the British police and indicated that authorities had been monitoring the suspects for some time. Speaking to reporters in Illinois, Trump said, “It was an amazing thing. They did a fantastic job working with the UK. We were investigating them. They were trying to cause major damage to our base. Working with the British has been a huge success.”
He added, “Maybe it was Scotland Yard—I don’t know. We worked with many people. We had them under surveillance for a long time and finally caught them. Thank you.” However, it is believed that the arrest operation was not pre-planned; in other words, the police were reportedly unaware of the alleged plot beforehand. Reports suggest that a local farmer alerted the police about the planned car-bomb attack. While returning home from a party, she spotted five masked individuals who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.
She told The Telegraph, “I wondered what they were doing. I saw a group of young men, who looked Middle Eastern, running through the foliage. Some of them were wearing masks or balaclavas. As we drove past, they all scattered.” She added, “Some ran towards the fields, while others dashed towards the airfield. That was when we realized the situation was serious.”
A local farmer called 999 at 12:45 AM to alert the police about individuals behaving suspiciously near three white vans. Police reported that an active incendiary device and chemical substances were found inside one of the vehicles.
