Five men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after three vehicles were spotted heading towards RAF Fairford on Sunday, 27 September, have all been confirmed as British nationals, police have stated.
Counter Terrorism Police (CTP) provided an update this afternoon revealing that the individuals, all in their early to mid-20s and residents of London, were detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and for the preparation of a terrorist act, as outlined in Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.
The initial report came to Gloucestershire Police at around 12:45am on Sunday, when three vehicles were reported travelling towards the airbase. This led to the arrest of the five men in Whelford on suspicion of explosives offences, which was subsequently extended to include preparation of a terrorist act.
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CTP officers, who lead the investigation, confirmed the men were aged between 23 and 25. They are currently being held in custody as enquiries continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding their activities, alongside any knowledge or motivation linked to the incident.
Specially trained counter-terrorism officers have remained at the scene overnight, conducting thorough examinations and carrying out various investigative actions. These efforts have resulted in multiple new lines of enquiry.
A police cordon remains in place around the site and will be reassessed later today.
A CTP spokesperson said: “Due to the complexity of this investigation, significant resources, including military assets, remain deployed at the location. We thank the public for their ongoing support and understanding.”
“We aim to minimise disruption for local communities and ask for their continued patience as our work at the scene progresses. The cordon remains in place and will be reviewed later today.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, emphasised the scale and seriousness of the operation: “This is a complex and large-scale investigation involving collaboration between local and national police forces, the Ministry of Defence, and other local agencies to advance the inquiry and support those affected.”
“We understand the disruption caused to local residents and want to reassure them that these actions are undertaken with national security and their safety as paramount concerns.”
“I also wish to thank emergency services personnel, including armed officers who responded initially, for their bravery and professionalism in uncertain and challenging circumstances.”
She added: “We are aware of speculation regarding the incident’s motivation and related geopolitical questions; however, we urge the public to allow Counter Terrorism Policing the necessary space to investigate with care and clarity.”
As a precaution, around 85 properties were evacuated, with 28 residents being offered hotel accommodation through support from Cotswold District Council.
Authorities continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses.