LONDON — British police evacuated homes and arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offenses on Sunday near an air base that the U.S. Air Force had been using to facilitate strikes on Iran.
A major incident was declared, with a massive emergency service presence seen around RAF Fairford, which is about 90 minutes outside London, close to the village of Whelford in west England.
“A number of properties are currently being evacuated,” the Gloucestershire police force said in a statement, following the arrest of “several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.” It did not provide further details on the men detained or what they were suspected to have done.
“The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles,” the statement continued, adding that the incident was “contained.” Police did not confirm any link between the incident and the base.
Helicopter footage from NBC News’ international partner Sky News showed multiple white vans close to the base seemingly being searched by a bomb disposal robot.
Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, told Britain’s Press Association a resident had reported three “suspicious vans” in the village in the early hours of Sunday morning. Along with other residents, Tudsbery has since been evacuated to a nearby recreation center.
The Reuters news agency had reported that security measures at the air base have been significantly increased in recent days. A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force told the agency they would not discuss specific force protection measures.
“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” the spokesperson said, ahead of the police statement.
“We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families,” they added.
The British government said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being updated about the incident, adding “it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing.”
In March this year, Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer gave permission for the U.S. to use its bases for “specific and limited defensive” operations against Iran.
In July, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Britain that “any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target,” Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported, citing bomber aircraft flights from Fairford.
At the time, a British government spokesperson said that the country was “ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad.”
Roz Savage, the local member of Parliament, thanked police for their response to “worrying scenes just outside the RAF Fairford base,” while British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in a post on X: “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”