President Donald Trump praised the arrests of five men near a British air base used by U.S. forces, saying authorities had watched them “for a long time,” according to Fox News.
The men were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terror attack, according to Fox News. The outlet reported that an Army bomb squad had been called in and that police had opened a broad investigation.
“We had them under view for a long time and we got them,” Trump said.
“They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.”
Fox News did not name the base. The British Intel, an account on X, reported that the arrests involved a suspected car bomb plot against RAF Fairford. It also reported that the men were found with three vans suspected of being used as car bombs. Those claims have not been independently verified.
The British Intel also described a large security response at the base. Counterterrorism police and an Army explosive ordnance disposal team had been deployed, it reported, while armored U.S. military vehicles patrolled the base and helicopters circled overhead. The account further claimed that the SAS had been sent to the scene, which has not been independently confirmed.
According to the same account, RAF Fairford was placed on Delta alert, which it described as the highest U.S. threat level. It reported that RAF Lakenheath was separately raised to Charlie alert.
Access roads remained closed and bomb disposal units were still at the site, the account reported, describing the situation as an ongoing security emergency. Neither report identified the men or said whether they had been charged.
