The five men were arrested by local police and counter-terrorism officers after a private individual called the police emergency number to report that three suspicious vehicles were near RAF Fairford air base and the community of Whelford, according to Deputy Chief Constable Richard Ocone.
The men are suspected of violating the Explosives Act and of preparing a terrorist offence. A picture circulating from the arrest shows five men handcuffed and bare-chested. The arrest is said to have taken place just over 300 metres from one of the base's entrances.
Homemade bombs
About 85 homes nearby were evacuated as a precaution, according to Ocone.
The air base is used by both the UK and the US.
Military bomb experts were called to the scene and examined several vehicles "with great intensity."
Explosives were reportedly found in the three vans. According to information provided to the British newspaper The Guardian, they were homemade explosive devices.
The US spied
President Trump said on Sunday afternoon in comments to reporters that US intelligence was involved in the operation:
We were watching them. They were counting on causing great destruction to our fort. Our collaboration with Britain was a fantastic job. We had (the suspected perpetrators) under surveillance for a long time.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the same time warned the public against drawing hasty conclusions:
"An investigation is ongoing, and I urge people not to speculate while authorities try to get all the facts," he commented, according to the BBC.
Fairford Air Base, with a runway of over 3,000 metres for fully loaded cargo planes, has been used by the US in the war against Iran. Britain stated in July that the military was ready to defend the country after the Revolutionary Guard in Iran warned them against allowing US bombers to take off from Fairford, according to Sky News.
