RAF Fairford: Counter-terror police lead investigation into major incident near air base, officials say

Summary

Five men have been arrested and remain in custody as counter-terror police are leading an investigation into a major incident near RAF Fairford
They were arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act, police say, after the force received a call at about 00:45 BST on Sunday morning relating to "three suspicious vehicles" travelling toward the RAF base
At a news conference, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone says "work to establish the full nature of the incident is ongoing", as 85 homes have been evacuated
"It all happened very quickly. We just packed our stuff up and came here," says one of the evacuated residents
Helicopter footage shows robots approaching vans at the scene as a British Army bomb disposal team is carrying out operations
RAF Fairford has long been used as a forward operating location by the US military. The country's Air Force says it "remains vigilant" following the incident
The context for this is troubling and comes amid a rising number of incidents across Europe of what's termed "hybrid warfare", Frank Gardner writes

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Live Reporting

Edited by Emma Grimshaw, Katie Jaffar and Matt Spivey

The US operates from military bases across the UKpublished at 14:08 BST
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent
The US operates from more than a dozen military bases in the UK.
The US Air Force's main bases in the UK are: RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk - home to the 48th Fighter Wing operating F-15 and F-35 jets; RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk - mainly a base for US air refuelling tankers; RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - a large airbase which periodically hosts US Air Force long range bombers including B-52s, B1 and B2s.
RAF Fairford has recently been used by the US Air Force to carry out strikes on Iran, following a decision by the UK Government in March to allow the Trump administration to conduct so-called “defensive operations” against Iranian military targets.
It’s been reported the threat alert at RAF Fairford has recently been raised to Delta - the highest level, meaning there’s intelligence relating to an imminent potential attack.
The threat level at RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall is believed to have been raised to Charlie - the second highest level when intelligence suggests there could be a potential attack.
Focus is on the community, assistant chief constable sayspublished at 14:00 BST
Assistant chief constable Richard Ocone finishes by stressing the police's focus is on the local community.
He thanks residents for their co-operation in evacuating, and says he appreciates the disruption this has caused.
"I would like to reassure them that we are working as quickly as we can to get them back into their properties," he adds.
Ocon then asks the public not to speculate about the incident.
That brings the brief news conference to a close.

'Work to establish full nature of the incident is ongoing'published at 13:59 BST
Image source, Reuters
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone says that work to establish the full nature of the incident is ongoing.
He says the force is working closely with its partners in counter-terrorism policing.
85 households evacuated and 400m cordon remains in place, police saypublished at 13:59 BST
He adds that a 400m cordon is in place around the vehicles while examinations take place.
Eighty-five households have been advised to evacuate with a leisure centre open to house those unable to stay with family or friends.

Five men arrested and in custody - Gloucestershire policepublished at 13:59 BST
Breaking
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone now says five men were arrested on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act.
They were taken into custody where they remain, he says.
'Three suspicious vehicles' were travelling towards RAF base, police saypublished at 13:58 BST
Image source, Reuters
We've just heard from Gloucestershire police assistant chief constable Richard Ocone, who says the force received a call at about 00:45 BST on Sunday morning relating to "three suspicious vehicles" travelling toward RAF Fairford.

'Increase in security in recent weeks', resident sayspublished at 13:49 BST
A woman who has lived near RAF Fairford for the last 50 years says there has been an increase in military security in recent weeks.
She told the Press Association that "very heavy vehicles" had been put across all gates, with "great big concrete walls” also placed behind some gates, including on Dunfield Loop and Whelford Road.
Image source, Getty Images
More pics from Fairfordpublished at 13:49 BST
Police have been responding to the major incident since the early hours of this morning, with nearby Fairford Youth Football Club, on Horcott Road, impacted.
Posting on its Facebook page, the club said today's games had been postponed "due to circumstances beyond its control".
The post said: "Please don't head to the club."
Image source, Getty Images/Justin Tallis
Image source, Getty Images/Justin Tallis
Image source, Getty Images/Leon Neal

Resident describes waking to police banging on her front doorpublished at 13:41 BST
One resident who has lived in the area for 18 years said she was woken by police banging on her door.
She was then ordered to leave straight away, without being able to take her dog with her.
Jo says she knew it "must be serious" after she was evacuated from her home at about 07:00 BST.
"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.”
Jo says the police waited at the door until they left.
“I didn’t even brush my teeth or nothing."
Jo says she had to leave her dog, Coco, after the rush.
“They just implied that we shouldn’t take him. We fed him, but it’s not about that, is it, it’s just he’s on his own for hours.”
No sign of police yet at news conferencepublished at 13:28 BST
The police news conference on the RAF Fairfield incident, which was due to start at 12:45 BST, has evidently been delayed.
Our reporters are waiting for a spokesperson for either Gloucestershire or counter-terror police to arrive. We will update you when we hear more.

Army bomb disposal robot inspecting vans near RAF Fairfordpublished at 13:08 BST
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent
A British Army bomb disposal team – known as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team – is still carrying out operations, according to a defence source.
Pictures from a news helicopter show a remote controlled robotic system being used to inspect a number of stationary white vans in the area.
A defence source said UK Military Police were also supporting their civilian counterparts in providing a security cordon around the area.
The latest from the scenepublished at 12:57 BST
Leigh Boobyer
Live page reporter
While we wait for police to give an update on the major incident - here are how things look on the ground.
Image source, PA Media
Armed police are placed on roads around RAF Fairford while investigations continue
Image source, Reuters
Some residents in the village have been evacuated to a leisure centre and have not been told when they can leave
Image source, Reuters
Emergency services have been positioned in and around the village since the early hours
Image source, PA Media
Counter terrorism police are leading the investigation
Image source, PA Media
Gloucestershire Police say several men had been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.

Cordon expanded to include RAF basepublished at 12:56 BST
Media caption,
Police cordon expands to RAF Fairford amid major incident
While we wait for police to give us their update, the cordon, which has been in place since the early hours of this morning, has been expanded to include RAF Fairford.
Our reporter Alastair McKee says everyone has been moved out of the vicinity of the air base and into the village further down the road.
Authorities to give update - watch livepublished at 12:45 BST
We're expecting to hear an update from authorities shortly.
You'll be able to watch live at the top of the stream when the conference gets under way.
We'll bring you all the key news lines here, too.

Resident heard shouting outside his front door as incident unfoldedpublished at 12:39 BST
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
There are multiple emergency service vehicles in the Gloucestershire village
A Whelford resident has described the moment he saw police apprehend the suspects.
Jeff told the BBC that he heard "shouting outside his front door", although he couldn't be sure where it came from.
He says he then looked out of his window and saw "people being held by police outside".
The moment was "a bit surreal", he says, but adds that "you get used to funny things going on sometimes around the base [RAF Fairford]".
Helicopter footage shows robot next to white vans near RAF Fairfordpublished at 12:22 BST
Helicopter footage taken near RAF Fairford has shown a wheeled robot operating near three parked white vans.
Earlier, Gloucestershire police said the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is examining a number of vehicles in the village of Whelford.
The force has not confirmed which vehicles were being examined, or mentioned the use of a robot.

Three 'unusual vans' parked in area overnight, says evacuated residentpublished at 12:21 BST
A resident evacuated from his home near RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday says three "unusual vans" appeared in the area overnight.
Julian Tudsbery claims footage recorded by doorbell cameras in the area since the evacuations has shown "some robots looking in the back of these vans".
He says: "There were these three vans that arrived in the middle of the village and a resident reported them to the police straight away."
Police have not made any mention of vans or the use of robots.
Evacuee describes being woken by policepublished at 12:11 BST
Annabelle Martin
Reporter
Jason, an evacuated resident who has been at the leisure centre since about 7am, told the BBC that he was first made aware of the incident after seeing "some messages on the village group" last night.
Jason says he heard the helicopter but went to bed as normal before being woken by police officers.
"It all happened very quickly. We just packed our stuff up and came here."
He says the police described the situation as a "major incident" and had given residents "basic updates".
Jason says he had to bring his ill cat with him, that was supposed to be heading to the vets today.
He says: "It's been a bit full on. A bit eventful."

Aerial pictures show heavy police presence in Gloucestershire - watch livepublished at 12:10 BST
We're now seeing live aerial pictures from near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire where there is a heavy police presence following the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.
You can watch live at the top of the page.
Home secretary confirms incident is 'contained'published at 12:00 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says emergency crews responding to the incident near RAF Fairfod believe it is now "contained".
"I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response to the major incident in Gloucestershire this morning and their reassurance that they believe the incident is contained," she writes on X.
"Whilst investigations are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further."