One of five arrested on suspicion of bomb plot in Britain had called police

One of the five men arrested near the Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Fairford in the early hours of Sunday morning had called the emergency number 999 himself, the BBC has learned.

The suspect had called the police at 00:45 British time, almost an hour before a farmer also called the same number after seeing men in masks.

The five men were initially arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on terrorism offences after three vans were spotted, causing a major security incident near the base in Gloucestershire, which is operated by the US military.

They were released on bail on Monday, with police describing this as an "investigative decision" "based on experience and strategy".

Police said that during searches of the vans, a quantity of gasoline was found, but no explosive devices were found.

also World October 6, 2026 British national arrested in connection with incident near RAF Fairford base

Police were notified of "three suspicious vehicles" in Whelford, a village directly east of the base, by the farmer.

She told the BBC that it was "just luck" that she had managed to see them, as when she returned home she had found the road blocked and a "large group of men with hoods and masks".

"I believe my 999 call ruined the plans they had," she said.

A bomb disposal team arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and a 400-meter security perimeter was established. 

The five men are all British citizens, aged between 23 and 25. Four of them live in Westminster and one in Camden, and searches of their homes have now been completed.

The RAF base has been used as a forward operating point by the US Air Force for decades.

also World October 5, 2026 US withdraws all bombers from RAF Fairford base in Britain

In recent months, American bombers have been flying from this base to the Middle East after the United Kingdom approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes against Iran.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he was "disappointed" that the five men had been released on bail.