Trump Says RAF Fairford Suspects Were Under Investigation for a Long Time
Trump Comments on RAF Fairford Arrests
US President Donald Trump has said the men arrested near RAF Fairford in England had been under investigation for a long time before British police took them into custody.
Five men were arrested early Sunday, September 27, near the military air base in Gloucestershire. They were initially detained on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and were later arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the suspects were being monitored by US and British authorities.
He also claimed they had been looking to cause “big damage” to the base.
Trump praised the cooperation between the United States and Britain during the operation.
Five Men Arrested Near Air Base
The arrests followed a police call at around 12:45 a.m. about three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be travelling toward RAF Fairford.
Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the nearby Whelford area.
British Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation. Authorities said the suspects remain in custody while officers work to establish what happened.
Police have not publicly identified the men or confirmed their nationalities.
They have also not officially stated who they believe may have been behind the suspected plot.
Police Investigate Suspicious Vehicles
Following the arrests, a 400-metre cordon was established around the vehicles.
The Army’s specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was brought in to examine the vehicles as part of the investigation.
Around 85 households in the nearby area were evacuated as a precaution.
Local police said emergency services would remain in the area while investigators gathered evidence.
Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator Vicki Evans said investigators were still in the early stages of the case.
She said five men remained in custody and that officers were working with partner agencies to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police also urged members of the public not to speculate while the investigation continues.
RAF Fairford Security Concerns
RAF Fairford is a British military facility used by the US Air Force. The base has become particularly significant during the current conflict involving Iran.
Reuters reported that the United States has used bombers based at Fairford for strikes against Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The security incident has therefore attracted attention in both Britain and the United States.
Security was also increased at other US bases in Britain following the arrests. Reuters witnesses reported seeing armoured vehicles and military personnel at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.
Possible Motive Still Being Investigated
Authorities have not confirmed a motive for the incident.
Reuters reported that an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely possibility by a source familiar with the investigation. Other possibilities, including Russian sabotage or an Islamist plot, were also being examined.
Those possibilities have not been established by police, and the investigation remains ongoing.
A recent security alert had also prompted increased surveillance around RAF Fairford, according to a local councillor quoted by Reuters.
Investigation Continues
The arrests have led to heightened security around RAF Fairford while British authorities continue examining the circumstances.
Trump’s comments indicate that US authorities had also been involved in monitoring the suspects, although details about the intelligence operation have not been publicly disclosed.
For now, the five men remain in custody and no charges establishing guilt have been reported.
British investigators are expected to continue examining the vehicles, gathering evidence and questioning those arrested as they determine what led to the incident.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation is at an early stage, and further information is expected as police establish the full circumstances surrounding the arrests.
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