RAF Fairford on Terror Alert: Residents Evacuated, Bomb Squad Deployed and Multiple Men Arrested

RAF Fairford is in lockdown after several men were arrested under the Explosives Act, homes were evacuated and armed police reportedly started checking nearby cars for bombs. The Mail has the story:

It is understood the base has been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level that can be issued by Washington’s Department of Defence.

Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.

Residents living near RAF Fairford are being evacuated to a leisure centre as the British Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team examine vehicles near the base amid what is understood to be a possible car bomb threat.

Roadblocks and armed police have been in place near the Cotswold base in recent days and emergency vehicles are parked nearby.

A witness said armed police had blocked access to the base’s main gate and around 30 police cars, ambulances and fire engines were in the village of Fairford.

Earlier a vehicle, apparently a tractor, was pictured blocking a gate at the base.

Gloucestershire Police said: “A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident.

“It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the explosives act.

“The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles.” …

The air base was the subject of a warning from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in July as the regime warned Britain not to allow US bombers to fly from the base.

Westminster permitted US planes to carry out defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites that had been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers have also briefed bosses of critical national infrastructure of the threat posed by Russia, Reuters reported.

The Government is understood to be increasingly concerned about possible sabotage efforts and cyber attacks by Moscow, though the Kremlin denies any such activity.

Worth reading in full.