British police arrested five men on Sunday on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism and explosives offenses outside RAF Fairford, a military base in western England that’s operated by the U.S. Air Force.
Three suspicious vehicles are being searched, and counterterror officers are leading the investigation.
Here’s what to know about the base.
Fairford is a base for U.S. bombers
RAF Fairford, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, is one of several bases in Britain that has been used by the U.S. Air Force under an agreement dating from the 1950s. It is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and is a forward operating location for U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.
Fairford’s long runway makes it suitable for heavy bombers, and it has been used in conflicts including the Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq war and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran this year.
It has been used for strikes on Iran
Britain did not join the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began Feb. 28 and initially denied President Donald Trump’s request to use bases in the U.K. to strike Iran. But then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced days later that he had agreed to let the U.S. use bases in Britain for “defensive” operations against Iran’s missiles and their launch sites following Iranian attacks on U.K. interests and Britain’s allies in the Gulf.
American B-1 and B-52 bombers have taken off from Fairford for operations during the Iran conflict.
Security is tight at U.S. bases in Britain
Anti-war campaigners have protested outside the perimeter fence of the base several times since the start of the Iran war.
It’s unclear whether the arrests are linked to the Iran war. British security officials say proxies linked to Iran are behind a string of arson and sabotage attempts in the U.K. and other countries, many of them targeting the Jewish community. They have previously warned that Tehran could expand its targets in the U.K. if conflicts in the Middle East continue.
Some local residents said security appeared to have been heightened around RAF Fairford in recent days, with heavy vehicles parked across entrance gates.
Another American base, RAF Lakenheath in eastern England, confirmed that it is on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level that can be issued by the U.S. Department of Defense. According to U.S. military websites, Force Protection Condition Charlie “applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received indicating some form of terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is likely.”
There was no immediate confirmation of the threat level at RAF Fairford. U.S. European Command said it would not discuss “specific force protection measures.”
On Sunday, British police arrested five men on suspicion of preparing for an act of terrorism and explosives offenses outside RAF Fairford, a military base in western England operated by the U.S. Air Force. The investigation is being led by counterterrorism officers, and three suspicious vehicles are currently being searched.
RAF Fairford is located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London and serves as a key military base for the U.S. Air Force, established under an agreement that dates back to the 1950s. It houses the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and is a forward operating location for the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command. The base features a long runway, making it suitable for heavy bombers, and has played a significant role in various military conflicts, including the Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq War, and more recently, operations related to the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran.
In light of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, Britain initially denied a request from then-President Donald Trump to use bases in the U.K. for strikes against Iran. However, following Iranian attacks on British interests and allies in the Gulf, then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer subsequently announced that the U.S. would be permitted to conduct “defensive” operations from British bases against Iranian missile sites. American B-1 and B-52 bombers have since launched operations from Fairford in this context.
Security at U.S. bases in Britain has been notably heightened amid these tensions. Anti-war activists have protested outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford multiple times since the commencement of the conflict with Iran. While it remains unclear if the recent arrests are connected to the ongoing war, British security officials have pointed to proxies associated with Iran as responsible for a series of arson and sabotage attempts within the U.K. and beyond, particularly targeting the Jewish community. They have expressed concerns that if conflicts in the Middle East persist, Tehran might expand its targets within the U.K.
Residents around RAF Fairford have reported an increase in security measures in recent days, with heavy vehicles positioned at entrance gates. Additionally, RAF Lakenheath, another American base in eastern England, confirmed that it is currently on Charlie alert, which is the second-highest threat level designated by the U.S. Department of Defense. According to military guidelines, this alert status is activated when incidents occur or intelligence is received indicating a potential terrorist threat targeting personnel or facilities.
While the specific threat level at RAF Fairford has not been confirmed, U.S. European Command has declined to discuss particular force protection measures, maintaining a level of operational security amid these heightened tensions. The current situation underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by U.S. military installations in Britain and the potential implications of global conflicts extending into the U.K.
