The Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has expressed gratitude to a local resident who raised the alarm after noticing suspicious activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The villager from Whelford, who has chosen to remain anonymous, reported vehicles blocking a road and a group of men wearing hooded clothing and balaclavas.
Mr Streeting praised the resident for her swift and thoughtful action, stating she did exactly what was hoped for in such an extraordinary situation. “I’m really grateful to her – I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing,” he said.
However, Mr Streeting also noted that the villager had only a “partial picture” of the situation. He refrained from elaborating further, emphasising the importance of ongoing security work carried out by police and intelligence services, much of which remains unreported for valid reasons.
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The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when armed police stopped three vans near the airbase, which is used by the US Air Force. Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences, and approximately 85 households were evacuated as a precaution.
The resident told media outlets she initially tried to contact the Ministry of Defence Police but, after receiving no response, dialled 999 at 1.36am. Armed police arrived approximately ten minutes later, rapidly establishing a presence in the area.
She expressed surprise and concern that, despite the airbase operating a roadblock near its entrance, other nearby roads appeared unmonitored. She highlighted that the vans were parked very close to residential properties and commented that it seemed “someone really dropped the ball on this.”
Commenting on discrepancies in timings communicated by the police, she questioned why the authorities were reportedly aware of the suspicious vans at 12.45am but seemingly did not identify their presence in Whelford when she made her call almost an hour later.
Mr Streeting reiterated his thanks to the police and security services for their effective handling of the situation, which prevented any harm to RAF Fairford. He also referenced US President Donald Trump’s praise for the UK security services, stating it was a proud moment to see their efforts recognised by an international ally.
The incident highlights the critical role of public vigilance alongside the ongoing efforts of security organisations to protect key sites and the wider community.