President Donald Trump has said the five men arrested near RAF Fairford on Sunday had been monitored by US and UK authorities “for a long time” before their arrest, as the counter-terrorism investigation into the incident continues.
What Trump said
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Mr Trump said: “It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort. And working with the British worked out great.” He added: “We had them under view for a long time and we got them,” according to reports from Reuters, the Times of India and Forbes.
The comments are the first indication from a senior figure that the operation may have followed a period of surveillance, rather than being a purely reactive response to the report of “three suspicious vehicles” that triggered the major incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police and crime commissioner statement
Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson, has also issued a statement, thanking residents of Whelford and Fairford for their patience during what he called a “fast-moving situation”. He said: “Strong communities, like those in the Cotswolds, are what helps keep communities safe and make them more resilient.” Mr Nelson said his focus was on supporting local people and keeping them informed about when it will be safe to return home.
Where the investigation stands
As of Sunday evening, the five men arrested remain in custody and have not been charged or named. They were initially arrested under the Explosives Act and further arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Counter Terrorism Policing, led nationally by the Metropolitan Police, continues to lead the investigation, working alongside Gloucestershire Constabulary. A 400-metre cordon remains in place around the vehicles being examined by the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal team, and the roughly 85 evacuated households in Whelford have been told they may need to stay away from their homes overnight.
A US Air Force spokesperson said the service was “working closely with our UK counterparts to monitor this situation, minimise impacts and ensure the safety of US personnel, their families, and the local community.” RAF Fairford hosts the US Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and has been used to support operations against Iran.
This follows our earlier report: Major incident declared near RAF Fairford as police cordon off airbase, arrest several men. We will continue to update this story as the investigation develops.
