Five arrested near British military base, Trump says they were under surveillance for a long time

LONDON, September 27 – Five men were arrested today near the British military base “RAF Fairford,” which is also used by the U.S. Air Force, on suspicion of explosives-related offenses and the preparation of a terrorist act, according to ATSH-DPA. U.S. President Donald Trump said the five arrested men were preparing to cause “great damage” and that authorities had kept them under surveillance for a long time.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 27, 2026, near the RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire, England. British police have confirmed the timeline. At around 12:45 a.m., police received a call about three suspicious vehicles moving toward the base. Armed police intervened and arrested five men in the Whelford area, near the base.

They were initially arrested on suspicion of violating British explosives laws. The arrests were then extended to suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Because of the potential danger, around 85 families were evacuated from their homes and a security zone of about 400 meters was established. A specialist bomb squad inspected the three vans, also using a robot to check the vehicles.

British police said the investigation is still in its early stages and that the five men remain in custody. Authorities are analyzing the seized equipment to determine what may have been planned. RAF Fairford is used by the U.S. Air Force and is of particular importance to American military operations in the United Kingdom.