British police detained five men on Sunday morning near Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, an air base that supports U.S. military operations. The arrests occurred after a caller reported three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the installation shortly after midnight local time. Assistant Chief Constable Richard O’Connor confirmed that armed officers intervened and took the men into custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and of violating the Explosives Act. A 400‑meter exclusion zone was established while an explosive‑ordnance disposal team inspected the vehicles, and dozens of nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

The investigation is being coordinated by the United Kingdom’s Counter Terrorism Policing network. No names or nationalities have been released, and no group has claimed responsibility for an alleged plot. In a separate development, President Donald Trump referenced the arrests during a speech at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, stating that U.S. and U.K. authorities were working together and that the suspects had been under surveillance for some time. He described the individuals as “looking to do big damage” to the base.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the incident on social media, pledging that the government would “take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe.” The arrests follow a March decision by then‑Prime Minister Keir Starmer to permit the United States to use U.K. bases for limited defensive strikes against Iran, a move that Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned. The U.S. Embassy in London issued a security alert reminding American citizens that the British threat level remains severe and that U.S.-linked facilities may face heightened risk.