Crime · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Gloucestershire Police Evacuate Whelford Homes Near RAF Fairford After Explosives Act Arrests
Several men arrested on suspicion of explosives offences near RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire police declared a major incident and evacuated homes in the village of Whelford.
Whether authorities discuss operational details about US base security.
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CBC
“A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures.”Read the original ↗
CBC foregrounds US operational-security refusal; The Independent foregrounds UK political/official contact.
Evacuations near RAF Fairford
Gloucestershire police declared a major incident near RAF Fairford and evacuated residents from a number of properties in Whelford after they arrested several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. Gloucestershire police said, "The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is currently examining a number of vehicles," as armed police blocked access to the base’s main gate and equipment was placed in front of entry points. Residents were taken to a leisure centre while emergency services investigated, and about 30 emergency vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were stationed in Fairford.
A USAF spokesperson said the 501st Combat Support Wing and other US units based in the UK remained vigilant and would take steps needed to protect personnel and their families. Authorities did not provide immediate information about what prompted the arrests, whether explosives were found, or if the suspected offences were connected to the airbase.
Officials urge calm
Gloucestershire police told residents that the situation was contained, saying, "A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident." Laura Hall-Wilson, from Cotswold District Council, said on X, "This is a very serious incident," and added that those closest had been evacuated to Cirencester Leisure Centre. The BBC reported that residents in Whelford, Gloucestershire, had been taken to a leisure centre while investigations continued, and the force said a cordon was in place.
The Guardian said the prime minister, Andy Burnham, was being updated on the matter from Liverpool, where the Labour party conference is taking place, and a government spokesperson said it was inappropriate to comment further while investigations were ongoing. Wes Streeting thanked emergency and specialist teams, saying, "We can be reassured that this is being dealt with," as the defence secretary said emergency response teams and armed forces were on standby 24/7.
Security stakes and context
The BBC said the base had been recently used to deploy USAF bombers since the country's conflict in Iran began in February, and it described March landings at RAF Fairford after Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for defensive US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases. The Guardian said RAF Fairford had been at the centre of protests over the British government’s decision to allow the US to use the base to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the strait of Hormuz. The US Air Force declined to discuss specific force protection measures, with a spokesperson saying, "For operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures."
“For operational security reasons we will not discuss specific force protection measures.”
The US Air Force spokesperson also said, "We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families," as police continued examining vehicles and investigations remained ongoing. Police and US officials both avoided linking the arrests or the explosives investigation to Iran or to the airbase as a target, leaving the immediate focus on the evacuated community in Whelford and the cordon around the area.