LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) – British police declared a major incident at RAF Fairford in southwest England on Sunday, following the arrest of several men on suspicion of violating the Explosives Act.
The arrests occurred at the U.S. Air Force-used base, which recently received authorization from the British government to conduct strikes on Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
A Reuters witness reported armed police blocking access to the base’s main entrance, with approximately 30 emergency vehicles—including police cars, ambulances, and fire engines—positioned in the nearby village of Fairford.
Gloucestershire Police stated in a release, “A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. This comes after the arrest of several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act.”
The statement added, “The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is currently examining a number of vehicles.”
A U.S. Air Force spokesperson declined to comment on specific security measures but emphasized that the 501st Combat Support Wing and other UK-based units remain vigilant in safeguarding personnel and families.
“We continuously evaluate various factors that influence our protective measures to ensure the safety and security of our installations, personnel, and their families,” the spokesperson noted.
In July, Britain announced its military readiness to counter potential threats after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned against allowing U.S. bombers to operate from Fairford. Concurrently, British officials have been briefing critical infrastructure providers about risks posed by Russia, amid growing concerns over possible sabotage and cyberattacks—allegations Russia consistently denies.
(Reporting by Toby Shepheard and Andrew MacAskill; writing by Kate Holton and Elizabeth Piper; editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Alexandra Hudson)
