Five men have been arrested following a large-scale police operation near the British military airbase RAF Fairford, where American military aircraft are stationed. The men are suspected of violating the British explosives legislation and were later also suspected of preparing a terrorist act. At the same time, remarks by US President Donald Trump are raising questions about what authorities already knew. British media report that the local police operation was triggered by a call from the public after suspicious vans were spotted in the area, while Trump claims the suspects had been under official surveillance for a long time.

The alarm was raised at 00:45 on Sunday night, after a person in the area reported three suspicious vans appearing to head towards the British airbase RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

According to British media, a local woman saw the vehicles and a group of men in the area and first tried to contact the police at the airbase, but when no one responded, she called 999. Armed police were dispatched to the scene, and the five men were arrested in Whelford, a small village a couple of kilometers from the airbase.

Police initially launched an investigation into violations of the explosives legislation, but suspicions intensified later when the men were also arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under the British terrorism law. As a precaution, about 85 households in the area were evacuated.

The operation quickly expanded and an area of about 400 meters around the vehicles was cordoned off. Army bomb technicians were sent to examine the vehicles, and a remote-controlled robot was used during the work.

Aerial images showed a robot approaching three white vans, some with the back doors open. Authorities have been cautious with details about what exactly was found and what the suspicious vehicles contained.

Possible Iran connection under investigation

A central question in the investigation is whether the suspected men have any connection to Iran. British media have highlighted this theory, partly since RAF Fairford is believed to have been used in attacks against Iran during the war.

RAF Fairford is largely used by the U.S. Air Force and has played a key role in American military operations during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The base has been used, among other things, by American long-range bombers such as the B-1 and B-52.

The British government has permitted American forces to use British bases for operations against Iranian targets. Iran has previously warned that military installations used for attacks against the country may be considered legitimate targets.

Trump: “We had them under surveillance”

US President Donald Trump gave a different version of events. He claimed that the suspects had been under American surveillance for a long time, but could not specify which authorities had led the investigation. When asked who was behind the operation, Trump answered: “Scotland Yard and I don’t know.”

“It was fantastic. Working together with the UK was a fantastic effort,” Trump said at a press conference.

“We had them under investigation. They were planning to cause serious harm to our facility and through cooperation with the British it worked out very well. We had them under surveillance for a long time and we got them. Thank you.”

The claim raises questions, as British media report that the immediate police operation began after a call from a person in the area who saw the suspicious vans and people moving nearby. According to media reports, it was the local British police who responded, not an intervention led by intelligence services.

Trump further claimed that the suspects planned to cause extensive damage at the American facility.

The US Embassy in the UK is urging American citizens to be cautious and follow instructions from authorities.