Gloucestershire Constabulary declared a major incident at RAF Fairford on Sunday morning. Several men have been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act 1883, police confirmed. A British Army specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is examining a number of vehicles at the scene. The US Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing, which operates from the Gloucestershire base, has reportedly moved to FPCON Delta, the highest US Department of Defense force protection level, according to multiple outlets. The US Air Force has declined to confirm this.
The police operation began at approximately 01:00 BST in the early hours of Sunday, according to local reporting. A National Police Air Service helicopter was observed circling the base overnight. By Sunday morning, police had evacuated residents door-to-door from multiple properties in the nearby village of Whelford, roughly two miles southeast of the base, and moved them to a leisure centre.
Scene remains under cordon
Approximately 30 police cars, ambulances and fire engines were present at the scene, according to eyewitness accounts. Armed officers are blocking access to the base's main gate, and roadblocks remain in place on surrounding routes. Gloucestershire Police said in a statement that "a cordon is currently in place but we'd like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained." The force said it is "working closely with our partners and enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place."
The 501st Combat Support Wing said in a statement that it and "fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families." The wing declined to discuss specific force protection measures. Reuters reported an eyewitness account that security at the base had "significantly increased in recent days" before Sunday's arrests, a detail not yet confirmed by police.
Observers are reading: Assessment of how Fairford's Explosives Act arrests fit the pattern of confirmed and claimed threats against UK bases since Epic Fury began.
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What remains unconfirmed
Police have not confirmed reports of a car bomb threat circulating in some media accounts. The motive behind the arrests has not been stated. Whether the vehicles under EOD examination contain viable explosive devices has not been determined. No link to Iran or the IRGC has been announced by police. Gloucestershire Police describe the incident as "contained," though the cordon, evacuations and FPCON Delta reports underline that the situation was still active as of Sunday.
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