UK Defence Secretary hails US-UK bond after foiled RAF Fairford bomb plot
At the Labour Party conference, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called the UK-US alliance the closest on Earth, speaking after police stopped a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford.
During the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the relationship between Britain and the United States as the "closest on Earth" following the disruption of a suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford. Counter Terrorism Police arrested five British men in their twenties from London after three suspicious vans were discovered near the Gloucestershire facility, which also serves US Air Force operations.
Streeting noted that a live police investigation was under way and could not provide further details, while thanking security services for their work. President Donald Trump publicly praised British police for preventing what he called "big damage" and highlighted the cooperation between the two nations. Streeting's comments arrived as recent interactions between Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Trump have been strained over issues such as the Chagos surrender plan and the UK's stance on the war in Iran.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the importance of UK-US security cooperation and highlights ongoing terrorism threats on British soil.
How this story developed
- Sep 25 Weekend Nor'easter Brings Gale-Force Winds, Flooding and Rain to the East Coast
- Sep 25 Residents on Hawaii's Big Island and coastal Mexico are preparing for severe flooding and hazardous surf as Hurricanes Nolo and Polo intensify.
- Sep 26 Surf City marina reported a 25‑foot vessel swept away and Edgewater parking lot partially submerged.
- Sep 27 Police in Gloucestershire detained several men on explosives-related charges and the army began examining vehicles after a major incident was declared at RAF Fairford, a US-used base in southwest England.
- Sep 27 Police have detained several men on explosives‑related charges.
- Sep 27 US President Donald Trump told reporters they had been "looking to do big damage" at the US air base in Gloucestershire, southwest England.
- Sep 27 Police detained several men at RAF Fairford following reports of unusual vehicles and hooded individuals near the base early Sunday.
- Sep 28 President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii.
- Sep 28 Police declared a major incident and set up a 400‑metre exclusion zone around the base.
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