RAF Fairford: Trump questions bail decision as five suspects released

Counter-terrorism investigators have confirmed that no improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found inside the three vans at the centre of the security operation near RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, on 27 September, although police recovered a quantity of petrol.

The disclosure follows the major incident that was declared in the early hours of 27 September and subsequently reported by ADS Advance, which saw five men arrested near the Gloucestershire air base, around 85 households evacuated in the nearby village of Whelford and the deployment of British Army bomb disposal specialists to examine the three vehicles.

A bomb disposal robot has been used at the scene of the incident in the village of Whelford.

The vehicle appeared to be inspecting large white vans.

Sky's @KamaliMelbourne reports on what is known so far.https://t.co/pbFbjT2Ano

Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/hwH9iQgxgH

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 27, 2026

The operation has been a key focal point over recent days, with the suspects being detained in Whelford, which is located just 350m (1,148ft) away from the nearest runway access gate into the Gloucestershire base.

RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades. For much of this year, Fairford has been used as a key forward operating location for USAF-operated B-1B Lancer and B-52H Stratofortress bombers, after the UK approved Washington’s request to use it to launch defensive strikes on Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.

Police release five suspects on bail without charge

Providing an update on the situation on 29 September, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor – the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing – said the vans had undergone “extensive examination” with support from military assets and forensic experts. Police have also searched properties in London that were connected to the investigation.

As the investigation unfolded, security measures around the air base were raised to Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Delta – the highest threat level in the US military’s force-protection system. By 29 September, the USAF had begun to scale back these security measures around the base, with investigative scenes expected to close the following day.

The five suspects, described by police as British nationals in their early 20s from London, were initially arrested under the Explosives Act before also being detained on suspicion of preparing to conduct a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act. Although no IEDs were discovered, an unspecified quantity of petrol was recovered as part of the investigation.

The five men were subsequently released on police bail on 28 September and have not been charged.

Taylor stressed that the release did not mean the investigation was over. The men remain subject to stringent conditions on contact and movement while detectives pursue “multiple lines of inquiry”. He described the move as an “investigative decision and one which is grounded in experience and strategy.”

999 calls shed new light on RAF Fairford incident

Further reporting has provided additional details about how the incident unfolded on 27 September. A local farmer told the BBC that she encountered three white vans and a group of hooded and masked men in Whelford during the early hours of 27 September and contacted police. She said armed officers arrived within minutes of her 999 call.

The Times has since reported that one of the five suspects had himself called 999 almost an hour before the farmer raised the alarm. The reason for that call has not been established.

Several men were detained near the British RAF Fairford airbase, which is used by the U.S. Air Force and where B-1B Lancer heavy bombers are stationed, on suspicion of attempting to enter the facility and plant explosives.

Residents of some homes near the base were evacuated,… pic.twitter.com/QV3rzfpiRv

— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) September 27, 2026

British counter-terrorism police have said they are examining whether the activity could have involved proxies or individuals acting knowingly or unknowingly on behalf of a foreign state.

Reporting by Reuters, The Guardian, ITV News and others have particularly focused on a possible Iranian connection, but no foreign state has been blamed by Westminster and Tehran has denied Iran’s involvement in the incident.

Trump questions bail decision and suggests Iran is linked to RAF Fairford incident

US President Trump initially praised the arrests, saying the suspects had been looking to cause “big damage”, and that UK and US authorities had worked closely together.

After learning that the five men had been released on bail, however, Trump said he was “surprised”, adding that he “wouldn’t have done that.”

🚨 WATCH: Donald Trump says the RAF Fairford suspects should have not been bailed

"We know everything about them. We would have not released them" pic.twitter.com/3IoZDdquNj

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) September 28, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio went further, saying the incident “clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor”, but provided no evidence or identified a specific country. Iran continues to reject suggestions that it was involved in the incident.

UK authorities have continued to stress that the investigation remains active.