'Exposed' by 999 call, bomb disposal robot used: What happened near US-run base in UK
Five men were arrested near the RAF Fairford military base in the UK after suspicious activity was reported by a local resident. Counterterrorism police are investigating the incident, which involved the use of a bomb-disposal robot.
Why it matters
The incident underscores heightened security concerns in the UK regarding potential hostile-state activity near sensitive military installations.
Five men were arrested near RAF Fairford in western England on Sunday after police received reports of three suspicious vans travelling towards the military air base, which has been used by US bombers during the war against Iran. The men were initially detained under explosives legislation and were later arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Three vans were searched by an Army bomb-disposal team, while a 400-metre cordon was imposed around the vehicles and residents of about 85 homes in nearby Whelford were evacuated.British counterterrorism officers are now investigating what the men were allegedly planning. No motive has been officially confirmed.
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