U.K. police say they arrested multiple suspects for offenses under the “Explosives Act” near a U.S. airbase in southwest England on Sunday.
Gloucestershire Police say the arrests took place just two miles from RAF Fairford, which hosts U.S. Air Force assets. The U.S. has recently used the base in operations relating to the war in Iran.
“A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident,” Gloucestershire Police said in a statement. “It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offenses under the explosives act.”
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“The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles,” police added.
President Donald Trump responded to news of the arrests while talking to the press later Sunday.
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic. Working with Britain. It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation,” Trump said of the suspects. “They, they were looking to do big damage to our fort and working with the British worked out great.”
A reporter then asked if the suspects were migrants, and Trump demurred.
“It may have been Scotland Yard. I don’t know that we worked with a lot of them. We had them under review for a long time and we got them,” Trump said.
Authorities did not name the suspects or detail exactly how many were arrested.
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting wrote on X that the situation is “being dealt with.”
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham also released a statement on the arrests.
“I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country. My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe,” he said.
“The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe. The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts,” he added.
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The incident comes roughly a month after Iran-linked hackers were suspected of forcing a small British power generator offline for several days this summer.
The British shutdown came weeks after hackers struck more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota, accessing technology used to remotely monitor and control pumps and other equipment. Minnesota officials have not publicly attributed the attacks. Several news outlets, citing U.S. officials and a leaked industry threat-sharing memo, reported that Iran was the likely culprit.
Federal agencies have also warned that Iranian-affiliated actors have targeted similar industrial devices across water, energy and government sectors, seeking access to the software used to control them. That activity has already caused operational disruptions and financial losses.
