5 men arrested near a U.K. air base used by U.S. forces on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act

Updated on: September 27, 2026 / 9:53 AM EDT / CBS News

British counterterrorism police said Sunday that they are investigating after several men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act in a village near a Royal Air Force base, which is used by U.S. bombers.

The Metropolitan Police said officers received a call around 12:45 a.m. local time about three suspicious vehicles that were traveling toward RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a county in southwestern England. Armed officers responded, and five men were arrested in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act. They were then arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.

"We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody," said Vicki Evans, the deputy assistant police commissioner and national coordinator for counter terrorism policing in the U.K., in a statement. "As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident."

Evans said around 85 households were evacuated as a precaution. A bomb disposal team was on site examining some vehicles in the Whelford area, police said earlier Sunday.

The town of Whelford is close to RAF…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/