A farmer who believes she “foiled” a suspected car-bomb plot at an RAF base after calling 999 says she does not see herself as a hero. The local said armed police swooped in within 10 minutes of her reporting seeing a group of men and three vans blocking a road in the village of Whelford, near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, in the early hours of Sunday.
Arrests and investigation
Five men arrested by officers are being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. All are British nationals from London, Counter Terrorism Policing said on Monday afternoon.
Three of the men arrested are 24-years-old and from Camden, Westminster and Willesden. The others are aged 23 and 25, both from Westminster.
Farmer's account
Speaking to the BBC on Monday morning, the farmer said she called the police after spotting “a large group of hooded and masked men”. She added: “I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had.”
However, the farmer, who has refused to be named, said she does not regard herself as a hero. She said: “To be honest, that’s why I want to be anonymous, it’s not really about that. Any of you, I’d like to think, if you’d seen what I saw, would have done exactly the same.”
“I used to honestly think, it’s so safe living in Whelford because the base was there and they’re keeping an eye on things,” she added. “But I think perhaps we were all a little bit naive about that. Who knew that a farmer would have to roll their sleeves up and report the activity?”
Police response and speculation
Gloucestershire Police said they were alerted to three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford at 12:45am on Sunday — around an hour before the farmer said she rang 999. At around 6am, 85 households near the base were advised to evacuate while bomb disposal robots were used to examine the vans.
RAF Fairford hosts the US Air Force, with bombers from the base used in attacks against Iran. There has been speculation of Iranian involvement in the suspected terror plot.
A Counter Terrorism Policing spokesman said officers are working to “establish the full circumstances of the activity of those arrested, their knowledge and any motivation behind this incident”. Deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans, of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.”
She added: “I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised. However, I ask that at this time, Counter Terrorism Policing are given the space to work carefully and clearly.” Iran’s Embassy in London said it “categorically rejects and strongly condemns” any suggestion of Iranian involvement.
The police operation was not intelligence-led, meaning that they did not know in advance that any plot was taking place.
