Five men arrested over RAF Fairford ‘bomb plot’ are British nationals, police say

The five men arrested over the suspected bomb plot at RAF Fairford are all British nationals from London and aged in their 20s, Counter Terrorism Policing said.

The men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after armed police stopped three vans travelling towards the military airbase used by US bombers.

Counter-terror police are understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to the suspected terror plot at the airbase.

The group, detained in the nearby Gloucestershire village of Whelford, in the early hours of Sunday, were “looking to do big damage”, US President Donald Trump later said.

The police operation was not intelligence-led, meaning investigators had not known about any potential plot in advance, the Press Association understands.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said it received reports of the suspicious vehicles travelling to the base at about 12.45am on Sunday.

Officers arrested the men under the Explosives Act and they were later further arrested under suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.

Suspects detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 can be held for up to 14 days without charge, compared to the 24-hour limit for standard arrests without an extension application.