Story perspectives

Police arrest five over alleged explosives and terrorist plot

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 2:32 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford on suspicion of explosives offenses and a terrorist plot.
A farmer saw three vans and hooded men near the base and called 999 at 1:36 a.m.
Gloucestershire Police received a 12:45 a.m. call about the vehicles on September 27.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer, saying officials have only a partial picture.
Britain recorded over 13,000 public tips in 2022-23, with about 2,000 useful.

History

Historical Context

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist suicide bombers detonated improvised devices on London’s Underground and a bus, killing 56 people and injuring 800, the deadliest UK terror attack since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. The attack prompted a tip-line effort and reshaped Metropolitan Police policy, a legacy reflected in the 27 September 2024 Gloucestershire Police raid near RAF Fairford, praised by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting as evidence of heightened vigilance.

1 of 2

Story summary

British police arrested five men near RAF Fairford on suspicion of explosives offenses and a terrorist plot.
A farmer saw three vans and hooded men near the base and called 999 at 1:36 a.m.
Gloucestershire Police received a 12:45 a.m. call about the vehicles on September 27.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer, saying officials have only a partial picture.
Britain recorded over 13,000 public tips in 2022-23, with about 2,000 useful.

1 / 2