Cricket players warned of live incident near RAF Fairford before terror plot arrests
Armed guards told a family playing cricket near RAF Fairford to leave eight hours before police arrested six men on suspicion of a terror plot.
Intelligence indicating a possible terror plot put RAF Fairford on heightened security, prompting armed personnel to warn a family playing cricket that the area was unsafe at 4:30 pm on Saturday. The cricketers were instructed to leave the field as guards cited a live incident. In the early hours of Sunday, a 999 call reported masked occupants in a van near the base, prompting police to detain six men—five British nationals in their mid-20s and a dual UK-Iranian citizen—who were subsequently released on bail.
Searches of three vans uncovered petrol but no explosive devices. Senior counter-terrorism officials described the investigation as highly complex and are examining all angles, including possible foreign state links. Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested strong indications of Iranian involvement, while Israeli and US leaders also commented on the case.
Why it matters
The incident shows how quickly security threats can affect civilian activities and highlights ongoing concerns about foreign-backed terrorism in the UK.
How this story developed
- Sep 27 Police arrest men at RAF Fairford after suspicious vehicle activity
- Sep 28 Police declared a major incident and set up a 400‑metre exclusion zone around the base.
- Sep 28 The five suspects were released on police bail.
- Sep 29 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a foreign actor was involved in a thwarted terror plot near RAF Fairford, while five suspects were released on bail.
- Sep 30 Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are strong indications that Iran played a role in the terrorism investigation surrounding the arrest of five men near RAF Fairford.
- Oct 1 Police detained another suspect in Westminster.
- Oct 2 Salam Ahmadyan and Rahman Salehi were arrested in Manchester and charged with preparing a terrorist attack on the local Jewish community, allegedly involving a chlorine bomb.
- Oct 3 The suspects were remanded in custody ahead of a court appearance.
- Oct 3 A sixth suspect linked to the RAF Fairford plot was released on bail.
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