Men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near U.S. air base in Britain as vehicles searched

LONDON — British police arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offences on Sunday near an air base which the United States Air Force had been using to facilitate strikes on Iran.

A major incident was declared, with a large emergency services presence seen in the area around RAF Fairford, close to the village of Whelford in west England.

“A number of properties are currently being evacuated,” the Gloucestershire Police force said in a statement, following the arrest of “several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.” It did not provide further details on the men detained.

“The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles,” the police statement added.

Local MP Roz Savage thanked police for their response to “worrying scenes just outside the RAF Fairford base,” while British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in a post on X: “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.”

Police, who did not confirm any link between the incident and the base, said they believed the incident to be “contained.”

The Reuters news agency had reported…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business