UK desk
Fairford Terrorist Attack Attempt
26–27 September 2026Newest firstUpdated Sunday evening, 27 September 2026
Counter Terrorism Policing is leading. Five men are in custody in the Whelford area, next to RAF Fairford. Police have not confirmed a target or a motive.
Current status
- Lead
- Counter Terrorism Policing
- Custody
- Five men, Whelford. Explosives Act suspicion, then Terrorism Act 2000, section 5.
- Detention
- They can be held for up to 14 days.
- Scene
- 400-metre cordon. Army EOD examining three white vans. About 85 households evacuated. Police say the incident is contained.
What happened
Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation. Five men are in custody in the Whelford area, beside RAF Fairford. They were arrested on suspicion of Explosives Act offences, then further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They can be held for up to 14 days.
No names, ages, or nationalities have been released. Police have not confirmed a target or a motive.
A 400-metre cordon is around three white vans. Army explosive ordnance disposal is examining them with a robot. About 85 households were evacuated to a leisure centre. Police say the incident is contained. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being updated. The USAF says Fairford personnel “remain vigilant.”
Later on Sunday, President Trump claimed the men had been “under view for a long time.” UK police say the operation began from a public 999 call. A Reuters source says an Iranian-linked motive is considered most likely. Neither claim has been confirmed by police.
Sunday 27 September: timeline
Times in BST. Newest first.
16:18 BSTBreaking
Trump comments
US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in Chicago, called the arrests “fantastic.”
“We had them under investigation.”
“They were looking to do big damage to our fort.”
“Working with the British worked out great.”
“It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know.”
“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”
Note for readers. This clashes with UK reporting. Police and PA have said the operation was not intelligence-led and began from a public 999 call at 00:45. UK officials have not confirmed prior joint surveillance. This is a presidential claim, not a police or charging fact.
~16:14 BST
Witness: the farmer’s 999 call
A local farmer, driving home from a party, says she found three white vans blocking a lane. She turned around, saw masked men in balaclavas run into the trees towards the base, then called 999 and warned a village WhatsApp group.
- One van was marked FUEL 2YOU; she said the number looked fake.
- She described the men as “Middle Eastern-looking young guys.”
“You don’t see masked men running around at half one in the morning in the countryside near a secure air base and not have concerns.”
Note for readers. Another resident says the airbase police line rang out, so 999 was dialled. The ethnicity is the witness’s description only, not a police identification.
Afternoon BST
BBC Verify geolocates the arrest photo
BBC Verify geolocated an image of the detained men. The image first circulated on a local WhatsApp group. The BBC says the location check supports its authenticity.
- About 350 metres from Crash Gate 6A.
- About 200 metres by road from the three vans.
- The men appear shirtless; officers are seen checking footwear.
Afternoon–evening BSTUnconfirmed
Motive: unofficial source
A Reuters source “familiar with the investigation” said an Iranian-linked motive is considered most likely. Russian sabotage or an Islamist plot are also being examined.
Note for readers. This is not a police statement and should not be treated as confirmed.
15:26–16:26 BST
Evacuees face a night away
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson said residents may stay out overnight and called the incident “destabilising.”
Cirencester Leisure Centre is being used as a rest centre. A resident, Jason, said 40 to 50 people were taken there at first; many later went to friends or family. Pets have been an issue: one dog was left behind, and another household took an 11-week-old puppy.
The cordon was still in place into the evening. No return-home time has been given.
Armed officers and marked cars held the roads around the village and the base perimeter all day. · BBC 15:09 BSTAnalysis
Iran speculation
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said it is unknown who is behind the incident. Some may suspect Iranian involvement because Fairford has been used for US strikes on Iran, and the IRGC called the base a “legitimate target” in July.
Note for readers. Analysis only. Iranian involvement is unconfirmed.
15:01 BST
Overnight warning
Councillor Hodgkinson told PA that evacuees may have to stay away while the scene is made safe.
~14:15–14:26 BST
CT Policing DAC Vicki Evans
The investigation is at an early stage. Five men are in custody, now further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. A 400-metre cordon is in place. About 85 households were evacuated while explosive ordnance disposal works.
~13:58–14:10 BST
Gloucestershire ACC Richard Ocone
Police were called at about 00:45 BST about three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford. Armed officers arrested five men in Whelford. Work to establish the full nature of the incident is ongoing. The public has been asked not to speculate.
Emergency vehicles staged at Fairford Youth Football Club while matches were postponed. · Reuters
Sunday morning / scene
Helicopter and ground pictures showed a wheeled explosive-ordnance-disposal robot moving between the three vans, two rear doors open, and large dark objects on the ground. Press described barrels and black items. Police have not officially confirmed what was inside.
Video circulated of several men arrested at gunpoint, appearing shirtless with their hands behind their backs. Press speculated that this was a suicide-vest precaution. Police have not confirmed that.
Helicopters were overheard around 02:00. Bomb-squad vehicles were reported about an hour later. Residents were woken by officers at the door. One, “Jo,” was told to leave immediately around 07:00 and left her dog behind. Julian Tudsbery said three unusual vans arrived in the village and a neighbour reported them at once. A woman described as the original caller said the men “did not appear to be locals.”
The operation was not described as intelligence-led in advance. It started from a public 999 call. Tabloid reports that “viable incendiary devices and chemicals” were found go beyond official statements. Official language remains suspicion under the Explosives Act, and vehicles under explosive-ordnance-disposal examination. Roadblocks stayed up through the morning.
Overnight timeline, 26–27 September
Times in BST. Newest first.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Morning–afternoon | Counter Terrorism Policing takes the lead. Further Terrorism Act arrests. Official statements. The Prime Minister is briefed. |
| Morning | EOD robot on the three vans. About 85 homes cleared. Cordon in place. Main gate of the base blocked. |
| ~03:00 | Bomb-squad vehicles reported arriving. |
| ~02:00 | Helicopters overhead. |
| Early hours | Armed response in Whelford. Five men arrested. Major incident declared. Evacuations start. |
| ~00:45 Sun 27 Sep | Police called about three suspicious vehicles heading towards RAF Fairford. |
Saturday 26 September — the base was already on high alert
The day before the vans, spotters reported Fairford at a raised US force-protection condition: the Giant Voice tannoy, aircraft dispersed, crash gates blocked, and civilians told to stay off the perimeter.
Multiple unofficial accounts said FPCON Delta, the highest level, meaning an attack is imminent or has occurred nearby. The USAF did not confirm the exact level. RAF Lakenheath later confirmed FPCON Charlie.
Why this base
RAF Fairford is UK-owned and US-operated, under the 501st Combat Support Wing. It is the main European forward operating location for US heavy bombers.
In 2026 it has hosted B-1B Lancers — and earlier B-52s — used in the US–Israel war with Iran that began on 28 February 2026. The UK authorised limited “defensive” use against Iranian missile sites attacking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Around a dozen B-1Bs were still reported there in late September. The Royal International Air Tattoo was cancelled in July because of the deployment.
Questions
- What happened at RAF Fairford on 27 September 2026?
- Police were called at about 00:45 BST about three suspicious vehicles heading towards RAF Fairford. Armed officers arrested five men in Whelford. A 400-metre cordon was placed around three white vans, about 85 households were evacuated, and Army explosive ordnance disposal examined the vehicles with a robot.
- Who is leading the Fairford investigation?
- Counter Terrorism Policing is leading. The five men were first arrested on suspicion of Explosives Act offences, then further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They can be held for up to 14 days.
- What did Donald Trump say about the Fairford arrests?
- Speaking in Chicago, Trump called the arrests “fantastic” and said the men had been “under view for a long time.” UK police and PA say the operation was not intelligence-led and began from a public 999 call. UK officials have not confirmed prior joint surveillance.
- Has a target or motive been confirmed?
- No. Police have not confirmed a target or a motive, and they have not released names, ages, or nationalities. A Reuters source said an Iranian-linked motive is considered most likely, with Russian sabotage and an Islamist plot also examined, but that is not a police statement.
- Why is RAF Fairford a sensitive site?
- Fairford is the main European forward operating location for US heavy bombers. In 2026 it hosted B-1B Lancers used in the US–Israel war with Iran. The day before the arrests, spotters reported the base already at a raised US force-protection condition.
Not confirmed
- No names, ages, or nationalities have been released.
- Police have not confirmed a target or a motive. The Iranian-linked motive comes from an unnamed Reuters source.
- UK officials have not confirmed Trump’s claim that the men were under prior surveillance.
- The witness’s description of the men’s ethnicity is not a police identification.
- Police have not officially confirmed what was inside the vans.
- Police have not confirmed press speculation about suicide-vest precautions.
- The USAF has not confirmed the exact force-protection level at Fairford.