Five men arrested near an RAF base used by the US are all British nationals aged in their 20s and from London, police have said. The suspects were detained in Whelford, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of Sunday, initially on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.
Arrests and Evacuations
A villager in Whelford called 999 after seeing three vans and a group of masked men near the base, prompting dozens of homes to be evacuated as bomb disposal teams were called in. Counter-terrorism police are understood to be investigating whether any potential plot could be linked to Iran, which has previously used proxies to carry out crimes on British soil.
Investigation Update
On Monday, Counter-Terrorism Policing (CTP) said multiple new lines of inquiry had emerged after investigators worked at the scene overnight. CTP Senior National Coordinator, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, 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."
Evans added: "I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I’d like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety. I’d also like to thank the emergency services for their response, including the armed officers who first attended the scene, not knowing what they may face."
Suspects and Custody
The five suspects are being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Pace), and officers have been granted an initial extension to hold them in custody. They are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster; and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London. A police cordon remains in place in Whelford and will be reviewed later today, CTP said.
