Gloucestershire Police said on Sunday 27th September 2026 that it was investigating an incident in which five men were arrested near an RAF air base in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said that police had received a call regarding ‘three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford,’ which is primarily operated by the United States Airforce.

Subsequently, armed officers responded and arrested five men who were taken into custody and remain pending further investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Ocone said that a 400m cordon has been placed around the vehicles, ‘while the Army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit team examine them.’

Further, 85 households in the nearby area have been advised to evacuate while the vehicle examination takes place.

US President Donald Trump weighed in on the incident, telling reporters that the suspects were ‘looking to do big damage to our fort’, and hailing UK police, ‘working with the British worked out great.’ He also suggested that the suspects had been under observation by the US and UK for a long time.

Equinox News has reached out to Gloucestershire Constabulary for more information regarding the motives of the individuals in custody.