A family playing cricket near RAF Fairford were ordered away by armed guards at approximately 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 1, 2026, due to a 'live incident' at the airbase. This occurred eight hours before five men were arrested in connection with a suspected terror plot involving the airbase. The heightened security at the US-linked airbase followed intelligence suggesting a possible attack. The family was near the perimeter when two armed guards approached them and instructed them to leave for safety reasons. One family member recounted, 'We'd played the evening before with no issue, but on Saturday two guards ran to the fence with guns and said: "You can't be here. There is a live incident going on. It's not safe."'
The warning preceded a 999 call made at 12:45 AM on Sunday, October 2, regarding suspicious activity in nearby Whelford. A woman reported seeing masked men and three suspicious vans, which led to a significant armed police operation around the Gloucestershire base. The five men arrested, all British nationals in their twenties from London, are suspected of explosives offenses and preparation of a terrorist act.
Residents in Dunfield reported hearing a public-address announcement from inside the base on Saturday evening, followed by a noticeable absence of staff. One resident expressed concern, stating, 'It's obvious the Americans knew something way before us. But if it affects them, it affects us. We are right next door.' Families connected to the base evacuated during the emergency and were later allowed to return to collect their belongings.
RAF Fairford has been used by US forces in military operations against Iran and was already viewed as a potential target amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. In the early hours of Sunday, the female farmer who alerted the police described seeing masked men and three vans near her home. Armed officers responded quickly, leading to the arrest of the five suspects.
Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed that the vehicles were examined with military and forensic support. No improvised explosive devices were found, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. One suspect reportedly contacted the police himself. The investigation into the suspects' intentions is ongoing. US President Donald Trump stated that American authorities had been monitoring the suspects for an extended period, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested possible foreign involvement. British counter-terrorism officials are exploring all angles, including potential foreign-state involvement.
All five men were released on police bail but remain under investigation with conditions on their movement and contact. The investigation expanded with the arrest of a sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, in Westminster on Thursday, October 6, who was also released on police bail. Approximately 85 households in Whelford were evacuated during the police operation, and a large cordon was established as bomb disposal experts examined the vans. Police have not publicly confirmed whether the suspects intended to attack RAF Fairford or the purpose of the petrol found in the vehicles.