New details have emerged about suspected explosive-laden vehicles near RAF Fairford, a US air force-operated base in Gloucestershire, after five men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act early on Sunday. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Initially, it appeared that a major attack had been thwarted by "pure luck" after a local farmer noticed suspicious vans and masked men on a deserted country lane. The farmer, travelling home around 1am, saw three vans "parked in a really weird fan shape" blocking the path to her farm. She described seeing "a large group of hooded and masked men" at a nearby junction. After failing to contact the Ministry of Defence, she called police at 1.36am and posted in a local WhatsApp group. Roughly 10 minutes later, armed officers arrived. Five men were arrested 300 metres from the base's perimeter, first under the Explosives Act and subsequently on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. All five – UK nationals from London aged between 23 and 25 – were released on bail yesterday.
The farmer, who remains anonymous, reiterated her belief that her tip-off "foiled whatever plans" were unfolding. "I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me, as a member of the public, to see and report this," she said. However, new details suggest competing, if not conflicting, versions of how events unfolded in the Cotswolds.
Defence secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer but cast doubt on her assertions, hinting that UK security services were aware and that her account offered only "a partial picture". Donald Trump claimed US and UK agencies worked together and had the five men "under view for a long time", adding the suspects "were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great".
The farmer acknowledged there had been "activity" by what she "assumed were plain-clothed police officers" in the area in recent days. Another local told the BBC that while walking their dog early on Saturday evening they were stopped by armed police and told to return home.
Gloucestershire constabulary said they were first alerted to the suspicious vans at 12.45am on Sunday – almost an hour before the farmer's 999 call. Counter-terror police confirmed the three vehicles had been travelling overnight and been subject to extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts. It is now understood that the material found inside them was not viable explosives, but police have said the investigation is continuing.
The expeditious nature of the response also raised eyebrows: the speed with which armed officers and police helicopters arrived at a rural location in the middle of the night appears improbable. Police are still working to establish motive. Yesterday afternoon, the head of UK National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, confirmed it may have been the work of proxies, or individuals working on behalf of a foreign state. On Monday night, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told Fox News that a foreign actor was involved in the suspected plot, but provided no evidence.