RAF Fairford 999 Call: One of Five Suspects Called Police Before Arrest
One of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford reportedly called 999 himself shortly before police arrived at the scene, adding a new detail to the counter-terrorism investigation surrounding three suspicious vans near the Gloucestershire airbase.
The five men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday after the vehicles were spotted in Whelford, a village close to RAF Fairford. The arrests triggered a major security operation, including a 400-metre cordon and the evacuation of about 85 homes.
Police later released all five men on bail while the investigation continues.
Suspect Called 999 Before Arrest
According to reports, one of the suspects, a man in his 20s from London, called the emergency services at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday.
The call came shortly before another 999 call from a local farmer who reported seeing several men and suspicious vans near the military base.
The reason for the suspect’s call has not been publicly established.
Police have also not said whether the call was connected to the activity that led to the arrests or whether it provides evidence about what the group intended to do.
The development has added another layer to an investigation that remains subject to several unanswered questions.
Farmer Also Alerted Police
A local farmer played an important role in alerting authorities after seeing the group near the village.
She reportedly encountered a large group of men wearing masks and noticed vehicles blocking a road. She then contacted police.
Her call prompted a major response, with armed officers attending the area and bomb disposal specialists being deployed.
Authorities established a security cordon while officers examined the vehicles and surrounding area.
The farmer later said she believed her call had helped prevent whatever activity the men may have been planning. However, investigators have not publicly established that the group was preparing an attack.
No Explosives Found
Police searched three vans connected to the investigation.
A quantity of petrol was found, but investigators said no explosive devices were discovered.
The absence of explosives has become an important part of the investigation as counter-terrorism officers work to determine why the men were in the area and what they intended to do.
The five suspects are all British nationals between the ages of 23 and 25. Police have said searches of their London homes have been completed.
The suspects remain under investigation despite being released on bail.
Police Defend Bail Decision
The decision to release the five men on bail has attracted attention, including criticism from senior US officials.
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the decision, given the proximity of the arrests to a military installation used by the US Air Force.
UK counter-terrorism officials have defended the decision.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the release was an investigative decision based on police experience and strategy. He also stressed that public safety remained at the centre of the decision-making process.
The suspects are reportedly subject to strict conditions governing their movements and contact with other people.
Investigation Continues
Counter-terrorism police are examining several possible explanations for the incident.
Investigators are considering whether the men may have been acting independently or whether they could have been knowingly or unknowingly connected to a foreign state or another organisation.
No foreign involvement has been established, and Iranian officials have rejected speculation linking Tehran to the incident.
Police have urged people not to speculate while investigators establish the facts.
The latest revelation about the 999 call provides another piece of information for detectives to examine. However, the purpose of the call and its connection to the wider incident remain unclear.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to assess the evidence from the vehicles, digital material and searches alongside witness accounts to determine what brought the five men to the area and whether any offence was being planned.
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