Major Incident Declared at RAF Fairford After Arrests Over Suspected Explosives Offences

Several men have been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after a major incident was declared at RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire airbase used by United States forces, according to a report from The Guardian.

Homes near the base were evacuated as security was significantly stepped up, and the British army was called in to inspect a number of vehicles in the area. Evacuated residents were taken to a nearby leisure centre while the operation continued.

Security stepped up at US-linked base

RAF Fairford has periodically served as a base for U.S. military aircraft as part of longstanding defense cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, making any security incident there a matter of interest to both governments.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the men arrested or provided full details of what prompted the declaration of a major incident, though the involvement of army explosives specialists inspecting vehicles points to concerns about a potential explosive threat.

Police said the situation remained active as of the initial reporting, with officers continuing to manage the evacuation and the wider security response around the base.