A major incident was declared near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire over the weekend after armed police cordoned off roads around the airbase and arrested several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.
What happened
Gloucestershire Police confirmed that a number of properties in Whelford, a small village on the north-eastern edge of the RAF Fairford site, were evacuated on Sunday 27 September following the arrests. Residents were taken to a nearby leisure centre while officers dealt with the scene.
In a statement, Gloucestershire Police said: “A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre. A cordon is currently in place in the area.”
The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal (bomb disposal) team was called in to examine a number of vehicles in the village. Police said they believed the incident to be contained, and no injuries have been reported.
Roads blocked around the airbase
Eyewitnesses reported armed police blocking the main gate and surrounding roads into RAF Fairford, with around 30 emergency vehicles — including police cars, ambulances and fire engines — stationed in and around the village. Security at the base had already been visibly increased in the days before the incident, with additional roadblocks and checks on those approaching the site.
Why RAF Fairford is in the spotlight
RAF Fairford is used by the United States Air Force (USAF) and has in recent months hosted B-1B Lancer bombers linked to US operations connected to the conflict with Iran. In July, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were reported to have warned that any base used to strike Iranian territory would be considered a “legitimate target”, and the UK government said at the time that its armed forces were ready to respond to any threat against British installations.
A US Air Force spokesperson said they were aware of reporting around the increased security but would not discuss specific force protection measures, adding that the 501st Combat Support Wing and other UK-based wings “remain vigilant” to ensure the safety of personnel, civilians and families connected to the base.
What we don’t yet know
Gloucestershire Police have not released the number of men arrested, their identities, or further detail on what was found in the vehicles examined by the bomb disposal team. We will update this article as police and the Ministry of Defence release further information.
This is a developing story. Cheltenham Times will update this article as more details are confirmed by Gloucestershire Police.
