London — Margalla News: UK Counter Terrorism Policing has confirmed that five men arrested near RAF Fairford remain in custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Police said they received a call at about 12:45 a.m. on September 27 concerning three suspicious vehicles apparently travelling towards RAF Fairford. Armed officers arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of Explosives Act offences and later further arrested them under section 5 of the Terrorism Act on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
A 400-metre cordon remains around the three vehicles while an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit examines them, and around 85 households were evacuated as a precaution. All five men remain in custody.
In a later development, U.S. President Donald Trump said the suspects had already been under investigation by U.S. and British authorities and were seeking to cause “big damage”. That is Trump's statement; UK police have not publicly confirmed the underlying details, a final plot or a specific intended target.
Reuters also cited a source described as familiar with the investigation as saying a possible Iran-linked motive was considered a leading line of inquiry, while Russian sabotage and an Islamist plot were also being examined. Police have not publicly confirmed any motive, sponsor, nationality of the suspects or foreign-state role.
RAF Fairford is used by the United States Air Force. It remains unconfirmed that the three vehicles were loaded with explosives or that the air base itself has been established as the final intended target. The investigation is ongoing.