US raises Lakenheath threat level after five arrests near RAF Fairford

Police believe matter ‘contained’; 85 Whelford households told to evacuate

The US Department of Defense on Sunday raised the threat level at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which hosts the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, to its second-highest category, the BBC reported. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he had been in contact with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and a USAF spokesperson said its personnel remained vigilant but did not discuss specific force protection methods.

The Lakenheath development came the same day Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and Gloucestershire Constabulary arrested five men near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosive offences, after reports at about 00:45 BST of three “suspicious vehicles” approaching the base. RAF Fairford sits on the border of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, shares a long history with the American military, and has recently been used by US warplanes as a staging post for defensive strikes on Iran.

A major incident was declared and 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford were advised to evacuate. Several residents said they had been led from their homes in the early hours and taken to a leisure centre. Gloucestershire Constabulary’s temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth told a late-Sunday news conference that she believed the matter was “contained” and that police were not actively seeking other individuals. Officials said displaced residents would not be able to return home overnight, and Cotswold District Council deputy chief executive David Stanley said overnight accommodation would be arranged for those unable to stay with family or friends.

CTP and Gloucestershire police said the probe was in its early stages, with the five men still in custody as of Sunday evening. The BBC understands the operation was not intelligence-led. The men were initially detained by Gloucestershire police on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act before being further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. An Army explosive ordnance disposal team was examining vehicles near the base.

A 400-metre cordon was placed around the area, and a hazardous-area response team was deployed as part of the wider emergency response. Aerial footage broadcast on Sunday showed a remote-controlled robot approaching stationary white vans in a wooded area, though police did not confirm its use.

President Donald Trump, asked about the arrests, said those detained had been “looking to do big damage.” “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” he said.

The BBC reported that Andy Burnham — whom it identified as Prime Minister — was kept updated on what the broadcaster described as a “deeply concerning” situation near the base.

An image purporting to show the moment the five men were detained was sent to the BBC. It showed detained men in Whelford about 350 metres from runway access at Crash Gate 6A at RAF Fairford. BBC Verify geolocated the image and said it appeared to be authentic, though the BBC was unable to verify the original source.

A woman who asked not to be named told the BBC she first called the Ministry of Defence police early Sunday after spotting three parked vans and a group of men wearing masks, but said no one answered. She then called 999. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.

Julian Tudsbury said he was woken up at about 07:00 by police banging on his door in Whelford. “There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate,” he said. He added that another local had seen three vehicles making their way to the base and called the police “straight away.”

Another resident, who gave his name only as Jeff, said he heard shouting outside at about 02:00. “[I] looked out the window and saw men were being held by police outside the house. They were armed, it was surreal,” he said.