Five men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and explosive offences after three “suspicious vehicles” were reported travelling towards an RAF base, police have said.

📻 Breaking It Down

A major incident was declared and dozens of homes near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire were evacuated following the report at about 00:45 BST on Sunday.

An Army explosive ordnance disposal team has been examining vehicles near the base, which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF), as counter-terror police lead the investigation.

Residents evacuated from the nearby village of Whelford have been told they will not be able to return home overnight, but officials say they believe the incident is contained.

📌 What You Need to Know

Aerial pictures showed a remote-controlled robot approaching stationary white vans in a wooded area, though its use has not been confirmed by police.

A 400m cordon has been placed around the area, where a hazardous area response team was deployed as part of a major emergency service response.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham was kept updated on the “deeply concerning” situation near the base.

The site shares a long history with the American military, and has recently been used by US warplanes as a staging post for defensive strikes on Iran.

President Donald Trump said those arrested had been “looking to do big damage”, adding: “We had them under view for a long time, and we got them.”

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he had been in contact with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya