Police were holding five men on Monday and examining suspected explosives found near a US-operated air force base in England, as counterterror detectives investigated whether the arrests foiled an attempted attack linked to Iran.
The men were detained early Sunday after three vans were spotted near RAF Fairford, a UK-owned base operated by the US Air Force that has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East.
The five, who have not been named, were initially held over suspected explosives offenses, and later also arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Police can hold them for up to 14 days before they must be charged or released.
President Donald Trump said the suspects had been detained following co-operation between the US and Britain, and had been “under view” for some time. Police, however, said the arrests were triggered by a late-night call about “suspicious vehicles” near the base.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting declined to give details of the operation, but said “it was a proud moment” that Trump had recognised “the work that our police and intelligence services do every day.”
“As and when we can, we will report back to the public about these individuals and about the nature of the threat,” Streeting told Times Radio.
Investigators have not concluded whether the incident is a state-backed attack, but are investigating a possible Iran link.
