RAF Fairford: Trump claims 'terror plot' was looking to do 'big damage'

RAF Fairford: Trump claims 'terror plot' was looking to do 'big damage' Trump said the men arrested near near RAF Fairford, in an operation led by counter-terrorism police - with homes evacuated and bomb disposal teams searching vehicles - were 'looking to do big damage' US President Donald Trump has said the five men arrested on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act in a counter-terrorism operation near near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire "were looking to do big damage". Police were called at around 12.45am after reports of three suspicious vehicles which appeared to be travelling towards the air base. Armed officers responded and arrested the five men in the Whelford area, initially on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The men remain in custody, while a 400-metre cordon has been placed around the vehicles as the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit carries out examinations. Around 85 households have been evacuated as a precaution, with residents directed to a nearby leisure centre if they are unable to stay with family or friends. The Press Association understands the operation was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known about any potential plot in advance. However in comments to reporters on his way to a gold tournament, Trump claimed that the US had been "working with Britain," adding "we had them under view for a long time, and we got them". RAF Fairford is used by the United States Air Force, which said personnel at the base “remain vigilant” but declined to discuss specific force-protection measures for operational security reasons. Key Events Everything we know The sleepy village of Whelford in Gloucester, has found itself at the centre of a major counter-terrorism operation today after a local spotted something on the way on the way home from a party. A farmer, who did not wish to be named, told how she called police at around 12:45am this morning after spotting three suspicious vehicles and men clad in balaclavas. After her initial call to airbase security went unanswered she dialled 999 with officers arriving on the scene a short while later. Five men were arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act and explosive offences while cops put up a cordon around the vans and bomb disposal teams began investigating the vehicles. This evening the cordon remains in place as more than 80 local households have been evacuated from nearby homes, with residents told it will be tomorrow at the earliest before they are allowed home. The incident is believed to have been ‘contained’ local authorities said, with command of the investigation handed over to Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP). CTP has not declared this a terrorist incident so far. At a press conference this evening the head of local policing told reporters bomb disposal teams were still examining the three vans. Under the Terrorism Act 2000 the five men detained over the suspected terror plot can be heldfor up to 14 days without charge. US Embassy in the UK urges citizens here to 'exercise caution' The US embassy has issued a warning to its citizens in the UK following the incident at RAF Fairford. US citizens "are encouraged to exercise caution and be mindful of personal security," their government said. 'It is pretty incredible, realising you had a brush with potential terrorists face to face' A local farmer who was driving home from a party in the early hours when she spotted a group of men in balaclavas near RAF Fairford has said she feels 'quite lucky' after her brush with potential danger. “Thinking about it now, and what could have happened if they had tried to stop me from driving away, I am quite lucky,” the farmer told The Telegraph. "It is pretty incredible, realising you had a brush with potential terrorists face to face and may have foiled a terrorist plot. It was clear they had just got there. Thank God we spotted them.” She said: “I just thought what the hell are they doing. Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base. We realised this was something pretty serious. “I mean, 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.” Farmer who called police says she noticed 'Dad's Army' preparations A local farmer who called police after spotting masked men and three vans has said there had been “Dad’s Army” style goings-on in the days before the incident in the early hours of this morning. Speaking to the Telegraph she said: “We thought something was going on as they had housed B1 bombers at the base until earlier this week when they were moved. And then suddenly they started blocking entrances to the air base. “They started blocking those with diggers and tractors and things early in the week, which seems a bit Dad’s Army to be honest. “By Friday they had sent all their civilian staff home, and then because this is a small village, we started noticing people who weren’t local and the suspicion was they were plain clothes police of some kind. We all knew something unusual was going on.” Incident believed to be 'contained' Maggie Blyth has confirmed that the incident declared in the area of RAF Fairford is believed to have been “contained”, following the arrests earlier today. She also said that it was up to Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) to decide whether it should be declared a “terrorist incident”. No declaration of a terrorist incident has so far been made by CTP. Investigations are ongoing and army bomb disposal experts are still examining the vehicles near RAF Fairford as a police cordon remains in place. Police respond to claims a airbase cops 'didn't answer phone' During the press conference Maggie Blyth was asked about earlier reports that a resident had tried to phone airbase police last night after witnessing suspicious activity, but they did not answer, prompting a call to 999 instead. Responding to a question about what might be changed, the Gloucestershire Police Temporary Chief Constable said: "I would want to reassure our communities that any call into us is always acted on and any information or intelligence passed to the police is always treated really seriously. We will continue to do that, and the same will apply to my colleagues from other agencies." After the 999 call police officers reportedly swiftly arrived on the scene, accoding to local reports. 'A fast-moving situation' Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, of Gloucestershire Police is currently addressing reporters at a press conference. She said: "Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation which means I’m unable to provide any additional information about this, but we’ve asked you here this afternoon, as senior leaders of agencies in Gloucestershire, as we wanted to provide reassurance to our local communities. "These arrests will no doubt have caused some shock and anxiety and we want those living locally to RAF Fairford and across Gloucestershire to be sure and to know that, as agencies, we are working closely together to support them." She added: "We are co-ordinating our plans through the Local Resilience Forum as local agencies – that is our normal procedures for multi-agency planning… to ensure that people are looked after and have the information that they need. "You will appreciate this is a fast-moving situation and all agencies across Gloucestershire are actively working to respond to our communities’ needs and continue to provide information to our communities on a regular basis, we will also continue to assist counter-terrorism policing with their investigation and liaise with other national partners." Overnight accommodation being organised for evacuated residents The local authority has been arranging overnight accommodation for around 85 residents who have been evacuated from the village, the press conference has been told. Some will be staying in accommodation arranged by the local authority while others will be staying with family and friends. Bomb disposal experts still working at scene - local police Speaking at a news conference this afternoon Gloucestershire Constabulary's Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth told reporters bomb disposal teams are still examining the three vans. She confirmed the investigation is being by counter-terrorism police, adding that the arrests will have caused "some shock and anxiety" to people in the community. US and UK 'working closely' Responding to the incident near RAF Fairford, a spokesperson for the US military said: “We are working closely with our UK counterparts to monitor this situation, minimise impacts and ensure the safety of US personnel, their families, and the local community.” Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also said it should be no surprise the UK has been “working closely with our American friends” in relation to the major incident outside RAF Fairford and that he had been in touch with Pete Hegseth today. American bombers have been operating our of RAF Fairford since March after Keir Starmer gave permission for the US to launch "specific defensive operations" against missile sites in Iran from UK bases. Helicopters 'hovering over village' as bomb squad investigate Reporting for the Mirror, journalist Nicholas North is at the scene. Helicopters hovered in the skies above the village where five suspected terrorists were arrested and police cars patrolled the area throughout the day. More than 50 residents in Whelford were evacuated to a leisure centre in Cirencester - eight miles away - as the investigation into the alleged terror attack gathered pace. Later, cops even ferried family pets left behind during the evacuation to their owners at the facility. Officers warned householders they faced staying overnight at the centre while Army bomb disposal experts using a robot examined the three vans believed to be packed with explosives near their homes. And at the RAF base, used by the US for bombing missions in Iran, American military personnel began to arrive for briefings by counter terror cops. The American contingent refused to comment as they pulled up at an entrance to the base in a military vehicle. Burnham calls incident 'deeply concerning' for residents Prime Minister Andy Burnham has thanked police and the armed forces, adding that the incident at RAF Fairford, will have been "deeply concerning" for residents. Trump praises 'fantastic' arrest Donald Trump has said the arrest of the five men near RAF Fairford was “fantastic”. The US president added that the men were “looking to do big damage” and “we had them under view for a long time”. Speaking in Medinah, Illinois, on his way to the President's Cup golf tournament, Trump praised the UK police response as “amazing” and said that Washington and London had been working together. He said: “It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. “We had them under investigation. They, they were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great. “It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. "We worked with a lot of them. “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.” 'Large group spotted by ‘plucky amateur’ - resident A resident has told of the moment she saw three vans "blocking the road" and a "large group of hooded and ‘balaclava’d’ men" - prompting her to call police. The woman, who asked not to be identified, said she was driving home in the early hours of Sunday morning when she spotted the group of people in the road. She dialled 999 after making the discovery, with cops arriving around 15 minutes later. "They would have seen the bright headlights," she said. “They probably thought we were the police (and) panicked." "It would appear that by doing so I just derailed whatever they were planning." She said that residents knew that RAF Fairford had been on lockdown due to a "terror threat". "A plucky amateur shouldn’t be spotting an unusual bit of activity at 1am when the air base is on high alert," she added. "I think it’s absolutely astonishing." 'Airbase police didn’t answer the phone' - local resident Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a resident had reported three "suspicious vans" in the village in the early hours of Sunday. "Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn’t answer the phone,” he said. “It just rang out so she dialled 999." He said he was evacuated at around 7am, adding: “(The police) were then banging on the door, so I went downstairs in my dressing gown. "There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate." Police investigating Iran link to suspected plot Police are reportedly investigating possible motives including a Russian sabotage operation, an Islamist plot or links to Iran following the earlier arrests. The Telegraph is reporting that sources familiar to the investigation have said that Iranian agents are “likely to have been directly involved” in the suspected plot rather than using proxies to carry it out. The police operation is said to have not been intelligence led, instead investigators had no prior knowledge of the alleged plot, with a local resident raising the alarm in the early hours of this morning. In March this year, after then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford and the US started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”. Evacuated residents may have to stay away overnight People evacuated from their homes near RAF Fairford may have to stay away overnight while emergency services continue work to make the area safe, a local councillor has said. Gloucestershire County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson told the Press Association the incident felt “very different” for the area. “We’re not used to something where there’s a potential terrorist incident,” he said. “It’s not something we’ve encountered in Gloucestershire before in recent times, and so it is worrying. “I mean, clearly it’s destabilising. Although that’s the whole point of terrorism, isn’t it? Is to destabilise. And clearly, we don’t know yet exactly what the circumstances are.” Mr Hodgkinson said it was possible residents would have to remain away from their homes overnight. Asked whether there had been extra preparations to protect people living near Fairford amid global conflicts, he added: “We are in a more heightened state of awareness around these things.” Dramatic moment men held at gunpoint A dramatic picture shows five shirtless men being held at gunpoint by armed police near RAF Fairford during the overnight operation. The men can be seen sitting on the road surrounded by officers. 'Three suspicious vehicles’ were travelling towards RAF Fairford Police have confirmed they were called shortly before 12.45am on Sunday following reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford. Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said armed officers responded and arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. A 400-metre cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit examines them. Around 85 households have been advised to evacuate as a precaution, with a nearby leisure centre opened for residents unable to stay with family or friends. Mr Ocone said police were working “as quickly as we can” to get residents back into their homes, adding that officers remained in close contact with local and national partners, including counter-terrorism policing. Five men further arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist act The five men detained near RAF Fairford early on Sunday morning have now been further arrested on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act, the Metropolitan Police said. The men had initially been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act as part of the major operation near the Gloucestershire airbase. Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation. Resident says police ‘wouldn’t leave doorstep’ until family evacuated A Whelford resident has described being woken by police and told to leave her home immediately as the major incident unfolded. Jo, who has lived in the village for 18 years, said she was evacuated at around 7am on Sunday. She said: “We were asleep and they were just banging on our door. “They said it was a critical incident and we’ve got to leave straight away, and they basically wouldn’t leave the doorstep until we left. “We just had to throw our clothes on and come. We didn’t know anything.” She added: “(The police) literally waited (at the door). I didn’t even brush my teeth or nothing. We didn’t know what, but we knew it must be serious.” Jo said she had been forced to leave her dog, Coco, behind in the rush. “They just implied that we shouldn’t take him,” she said. “We fed him, but it’s not about that, is it, it’s just he’s on his own for hours.” Evacuated resident says area has seen ‘heightened tensions’ A Whelford resident evacuated from his home has said there have been “heightened tensions” in the area because RAF Fairford is used by the US Air Force. Jason, 50, who did not want to give his surname, said he heard a helicopter above the village at around 1.30am before seeing messages on a local chat about vans blocking one of the lanes. He told reporters: “Then I went to bed. Then we were woken up about 6am with a couple of police at the door.” Jason left his home with his family, their 11-week-old puppy and two cats. He added: “There’s obviously been heightened tensions in the area, because obviously the base is used by USAF. “The police response was very rapid. They just need to clear the area now. Just hoping to go home.” Bomb disposal robot seen between ‘suspicious vans’ Aerial footage appears to show a bomb disposal robot moving between three white vans at the centre of the operation near RAF Fairford, reports PA. The rear doors of two of the vehicles were open, while large black items could be seen scattered around them. Resident recalls police ‘banging on the door’ during evacuation A Whelford resident has described being woken and told to leave his home after reports of three “suspicious vans” in the village. Julian Tudsbury, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a resident spotted the vehicles in the early hours of Sunday and called 999 after being unable to reach airbase police. Mr Tudsbury said he was evacuated at around 7am. He said: “The police were then banging on the door, so I went downstairs in my dressing gown. “There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident.” He said villagers taken to a leisure centre had been asked whether they had somewhere to stay on Sunday night. Mr Tudsbury added that he had been forced to leave his cat, Misty, behind at the home he shares with his wife. ‘Extra tension in the air’ Life in Fairford is continuing relatively normally on Sunday morning, but there is a noticeable extra tension around the town as the police operation continues nearby. Gloucestershire Live reporter Tristan Cork said the car park at St Thomas’ Church in Horcott, the part of Fairford closest to the airbase, remained full, although some worshippers may have had to take alternative routes because of road closures. He said there was a noticeable number of police cars around the town, along with unmarked black Range Rovers with darkened windows, while residents were discussing which roads remained shut and how best to get around. One local resident, Anita, told Gloucestershire Live: “We’re used to living next to the big base. We have the noise, the air tattoo, obviously, and we’ve had the fluctuations in population when the Americans come and the years they go. “But this year I always worried something like this would happen, and we just don’t know what to make of it. “I suppose I mainly feel sorry for the people over in Whelford who had to be fetched out of their beds in the middle of the night.” RAF Lakenheath placed on second-highest US threat level RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk is currently on Force Protection Condition Charlie, the second-highest threat level used by the US Department of Defense, the airbase has confirmed to the Press Association. The designation applies when an incident has occurred or intelligence has been received indicating some form of terrorist action targeting personnel or facilities is considered likely. It comes amid reports that RAF Fairford has been raised to FPCON Delta, the highest level, although that has not been officially confirmed. Delta "applies in the immediate area of a terrorist attack or when intelligence indicates terrorist action against a specific location or person is imminent." Counter-terror police now leading RAF Fairford explosives probe Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation after several men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near RAF Fairford, the Press Association understands. The police operation near Whelford in Gloucestershire was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known about any potential plot in advance. Villagers have been evacuated from homes near the US-used airbase, while Army explosives experts continue to examine a number of vehicles. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is also being kept updated on the situation. Defence Secretary says public ‘can be reassured’ Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said people “can be reassured” that the incident near RAF Fairford is being dealt with. He posted on X: “I would like to thank all those emergency and specialist teams who have acted so swiftly regarding the incident in Gloucestershire. “We can be reassured that this is being dealt with, and it is exactly why our emergency response teams and Armed Forces are on standby 24/7.” PM being kept updated on Gloucestershire incident Prime Minister Andy Burnham is receiving updates on the major incident near RAF Fairford. A Government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is being kept updated on the incident in Gloucestershire. “We are grateful to the emergency services, who have acted quickly to detain several suspects and put measures in place to keep the community safe. “It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst investigations are ongoing.” US Air Force says RAF Fairford personnel ‘remain vigilant’ The US Air Force has said personnel based at RAF Fairford “remain vigilant” as police deal with a major incident nearby. A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the current reporting, for questions regarding off-base incidents please contact the local authorities. “For operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures. “The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families. “We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”