UK Thwarts Suspected Terrorist Plot Against Base Used by US Bombers for Strikes on Iran

An air base in England where American bombers used to strike Iran are based was the target of a suspected bomb plot, U.K. officials said Sept. 27.

Five men were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after being stopped close to RAF Fairford, police said, and explosive ordnance disposal technicians were dispatched to the scene. RAF Fairford is a British base currently hosting a dozen B-1B Lancer bombers, which have been stationed there for around seven months for strikes on Iran.

President Donald Trump said the suspects were “looking to do big damage” to the U.S. at RAF Fairford and called the arrests “fantastic” before boarding Air Force One on Sept. 27.

“We had them under view for a long time and we got them,” Trump added. “Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation.”

The base has been under increased security for days, which included the placement of vehicles around the perimeter, people familiar with the matter said. The threat level at the base was raised before the suspects were arrested. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson declined to discuss specific force protection measures, citing operational security.

Explosive ordnance teams from the British Army were called in to inspect the scene, and helicopter video footage aired by multiple U.K. news outlets showed a robot and personnel inspecting three white vans near the base fence, with B-1Bs parked on base nearby.

“The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a statement.

Police said they were called by a local after receiving a report about three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford, which is located in Gloucestershire in southwest England.

“At around 12:45 a.m. today … police received a call relating to three suspicious vehicles which appeared to be traveling towards the air base,” the Metropolitan Police, which investigates terrorism cases in the U.K., said in a Sept. 27 statement.

The U.K. government is still investigating the incident, counterterrorism officials said.

“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator Vicki Evans said. “As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.”

RAF Fairford does not have permanent U.S. Air Force aircraft assigned there, but it has a wing dedicated to supporting U.S. operations and is considered the main U.S. bomber site in Europe, having regularly hosted U.S. aircraft for years.

“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our other U.K.-based wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” the Air Force spokesperson said. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people, and their families.”

Roadblocks, large machinery, and armed police have been seen around the base. Eighty-five homes in the nearby village of Whelford were evacuated.

“The emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents,” Gloucestershire Police assistant chief constable Richard Ocone said. “A cordon is in place as a precaution and the public can expect to see an emergency services presence in the area for some time.”

The B-1Bs at Fairford were heavily used during Operation Epic Fury, the large-scale air campaign against Iran in the spring, when the base housed some two dozen bombers including B-52 Stratofortresses.

Since a shaky ceasefire in April, most of the B-1Bs have remained while the U.S. carried out occasional strikes, including at least one involving a B-1 from Fairford. The bombers have regularly conducted training sorties out of the U.K.

The U.K. government gave permission for the base to be used in strikes on Iran in March under former Prime Minister Kier Starmer, for what the U.K. considers collective self-defense strikes. Burnham reaffirmed that decision in July, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the U.K. government that it considered Fairford a legitimate target for attack. The U.K. government said in July it was prepared to use the British armed forces to defend the base.

The U.S. Air Force said it would continue to cooperate with the U.K. government to ensure the safety of its bases in Britain. Another U.K. base with U.S. aircraft is RAF Lakenheath, which hosts F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle fighters that have deployed to the Middle East for operations against Iran. Lakenheath is also used as a stopover location for fighters heading to the Middle East from the U.S.

“The safety and security of our Airmen, families, and surrounding communities remains our highest priority,” the Air Force spokesperson said. “We remain in close coordination with our U.K. partners to help ensure the safety and security of both our military and local communities.”