Counter-terrorism police have confirmed that no explosive devices were found in three vans seized during the major incident near RAF Fairford last Sunday — only petrol — as all five suspects have been released on police bail and the cordon around the Gloucestershire base is expected to be fully lifted today (Wednesday).
This follows our earlier report: Major incident declared near RAF Fairford as police cordon off airbase and arrest several men.
Suspects released on bail
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed on Monday 28 September that all five men arrested in Whelford in the early hours of Sunday 27 September have been released on police bail with “stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others”.
The five suspects are British nationals aged between 23 and 25, all residents of London — four from the Borough of Westminster, one from Camden and one from Willesden. They were initially arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and subsequently on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
No explosives — only petrol
“We can confirm that no improvised explosive devices have been found,” AC Taylor said on Tuesday. “We have found a quantity of an accelerant — petrol — and we have recovered that as part of our investigation.” Army explosive ordnance disposal robots had examined the three vans extensively on Sunday before investigators could confirm no bombs were present.
One suspect called 999 himself
In a significant detail reported by the BBC, one of the five men is understood to have called 999 himself at around 00:45 BST — almost an hour before a local farmer also dialled the emergency services after seeing men in balaclavas near the vans. AC Taylor acknowledged the police response was triggered by “a range of information that we received”, suggesting prior intelligence about possible activity near the base.
Iran and foreign state lines of inquiry
Counter-terrorism investigators are actively exploring whether the suspects were acting as proxies for a foreign state. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been cited as a key line of inquiry. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was “clear a foreign actor” had been involved, while President Trump publicly criticised the decision to release the men on bail. AC Taylor defended the release as “an investigative decision grounded in experience and strategy”, allowing officers time to analyse mobile phones, computers and vehicle data alongside covert intelligence from MI5 and GCHQ.
Cordon lifted, residents return home
The 85 households evacuated from Whelford on Sunday were allowed to return home on Monday evening. A cordon remained in place around the three vans and near RAF Fairford into Tuesday, but police said it was expected to be fully lifted today. Searches of the London addresses of all five suspects are now complete.
RAF Fairford, on the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border, is used by the United States Air Force. The investigation continues. Anyone with information should contact Counter Terrorism Policing on 0800 789 321 or visit gov.uk/report-terrorism.
