British police are holding five men detained early Sunday after three vans were spotted near RAF Fairford. Detectives are examining suspected explosives found nearby and probing whether the arrests foiled an attempted attack with a possible Iran link; 85 homes were evacuated.
The men were first held over suspected explosives offenses, then arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. They have not been named, and police can hold them for up to 14 days before they must be charged or released. Investigators have not concluded that the incident was state-backed.
Army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine the vans. Residents of 85 homes in Whelford had not been able to return by Monday morning, and the vans remained in place. Police said a late-night call about suspicious vehicles prompted the arrests; President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation for some time and credited U.S.-British cooperation. Fairford has been used by U.S. bombers during the Iran conflict, and Iran has said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.
