Guardian reports intelligence community did not lead operation
President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that the five men arrested near RAF Fairford were “looking to do big damage,” saying the U.S. had the suspects “under investigation” and praising British authorities for doing “an amazing job” in foiling the potential plot.
The Guardian reported separately that the intelligence community did not lead the operation, suggesting officials may not have known about the suspicious activities in advance.
British counterterrorism police arrested the five men on suspicion of “preparation of a terrorist attack” and “of committing offenses under the Explosives Act” after a report around 1 a.m. about three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base, The New York Times reported.
Officials declared a “major incident” at RAF Fairford — a base used by the U.S. military to stage attacks on Iran — and deployed the army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit to the nearby village of Whelford. Police implemented road blocks and evacuated 85 households near the base.
“A 400-meter cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the army’s explosive ordnance disposal unit conduct examinations,” said Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner of Britain’s counterterrorism police.
Aerial images of the scene showed what appeared to be a robotic bomb disposal unit operating near three white vans.