British counterterrorism police are investigating what appears to have been a planned terrorist plot targeting a British air force base that is used by the American military.
Several suspicious vehicles were spotted near the base early Sunday, leading to the arrest of five men. British officials have not identified the men, but they said on Monday that the men were all in their early 20s and were British nationals from London.
The United States has used the base, R.A.F. Fairford, to deploy bombers against Iran during its war, but it is not yet clear whether the episode is connected to that conflict. On Monday, Iran’s embassy in London said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” speculation that Iran was connected to what had happened.
What happened?
On Sunday, shortly after midnight, the authorities in Gloucestershire, in southwest England, say they received a phone call about three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the military base, counterterrorism police said in a statement.
Armed officers responded to the call. The authorities arrested five men on suspicion of “committing offenses under the Explosives Act” and of “preparation of a terrorist act,” the police said.
The men were not named, in line with British policing rules that grant public anonymity to suspects until they are charged.
A bomb disposal robot spent most of Sunday cautiously examining three white vans while 85 families living nearby were evacuated from their homes.
How has the U.S. responded?
President Trump praised British law enforcement on Sunday and appeared to suggest that the suspects had been under surveillance.
“We had them under investigation,” he said, responding to questions about the incident. “They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.”
The U.S. Air Force referred questions about what happened near the base, which is home to both the 501st Combat Support Wing headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron, to the British authorities. U.S. European Command said it “remains vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families” in Europe.
The U.S. Embassy in London said in a statement on Sunday that American citizens in Britain should “exercise caution” and “be mindful of personal security.”
How has the U.S. used R.A.F. Fairford?
With a runway more than 9,990 feet long, R.A.F. Fairford has one of only a few European airfields that can be used by heavy bombers. The base was opened in preparation for D-Day in 1944 and has a long history of being used by the United States. In 2003, it was the site of repeated antiwar protests during the Iraq War.
This year, American B52 and B-1 planes loaded with munitions have repeatedly taken off from Fairford on missions to Iran since the United States and Israel attacked the country in February.
Keir Starmer, the previous British prime minister, initially refused to allow the Trump administration to use the base for strikes in the war. He later permitted the Americans to use it for what he called “defensive” operations, which angered some Iranian officials. His successor, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has continued that policy.
On Sunday, Mr. Burnham said in a statement that the episode that had produced the arrests was “deeply concerning” for local residents and many across Britain. He urged people “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
Who could be behind a plot?
There are a few possible contenders.
Much speculation has pointed to Iran. In its statement on Monday, Iran’s embassy in London said that it rejected any links to the case and strongly condemned the speculation, which it said would “serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the U.K.”
Previously, Iran had suggested that it could retaliate against Britain for helping the United States in the war.
In July, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned Britain that allowing American bombers to conduct strikes against Iran out of its bases would make those British bases legitimate targets.
That same month, Britain accused a proxy of the Revolutionary Guards of directing a wave of actions against Jews in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, including arson attacks on synagogues.
British and European intelligence officials have also called out Russia for suspected attacks that used proxies to evade culpability.
In Britain, two men were convicted in June of conspiring to carry out arson attacks targeting properties and a car linked to Mr. Starmer. One had been recruited by a Russian-language Telegram account.
Experts have also said a plot could be related to Islamic extremism, which remains the biggest terror threat in Britain, according to security services.
How have the police responded?
Police arrested the men and then the army deployed robots to examine the three white vans. That work continued well into the evening on Sunday. Officials announced that none of the 85 evacuated families could return home until at least Monday.
As of Monday afternoon, a 1,300-foot cordon remained in place. Many residents had not yet been allowed to go back home.
Michael D. Shear contributed reporting.
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