Major Incident at RAF Fairford: Men Arrested Under Explosives Act Near US Air Base

British police declared a major incident at RAF Fairford on Sunday 27 September 2026 after arresting several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, triggering evacuations and a large emergency response around the Gloucestershire air base. The RAF Fairford major incident is contained, police said, but the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team is still examining a number of vehicles in the area.

The base in southwest England is a major operating location for the United States Air Force, currently hosting B-1B Lancer bombers used in American strikes on Iranian missile sites. The situation was still developing on Sunday morning.

What Happened at RAF Fairford

Gloucestershire Police declared the major incident after arresting “several men” on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act, CNN reported on Sunday. The Press Association wire, carried by the Oldham Times, also confirmed the arrests and the major-incident declaration.

Residents of the village of Whelford, near the air base, are being moved out of their homes. In a statement quoted across multiple outlets, Gloucestershire Police said:

“A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident… The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre.”

Local station Greatest Hits Radio Gloucestershire confirmed the evacuation and reported armed police manning a cordon near Whelford. A Reuters eyewitness reported armed police blocking access to the base’s main gate, according to the Reuters wire carried by ThePrint.

The Army’s bomb disposal specialists have been called in. Gloucestershire Police said: “The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles.” Police added: “A cordon is currently in place but we’d like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained.”

A Reuters eyewitness reported around 30 emergency vehicles — including police cars, ambulances and fire engines — stationed in the village of Fairford near the base, with some photographed parked at Fairford Youth Football club, per the Reuters wire carried by Channel NewsAsia. The Sun repeated the figure, hedging that it was “reportedly” the case.

A spokesperson for the US Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing declined to discuss specific force-protection measures and said:

“The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families. We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.”

Why Fairford Matters: US Strikes on Iran

RAF Fairford is one of the most strategically important US Air Force installations in Europe, and it has been at the centre of the American campaign against Iranian missile sites this year. Multiple B-1B Lancer bombers arrived at the base in early March 2026, with the BBC reporting at least three aircraft arriving over 6–7 March and The Aviationist tracking four initial arrivals, according to Army Times. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the US had begun using the base for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region.” A Reuters photograph dated 27 September 2026 shows a B-1B Lancer parked at the base today.

The British government gave authorisation to the US to use RAF Fairford to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported — that characterisation of the authorisation is Reuters’ wording. The PA wire added that in March 2026, then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, and the US began using British bases for “specific defensive operations.”

For wider context, see our coverage of US-Iran tensions, the region’s shifting military balance, and Iran’s barter arrangements with China under sanctions.

The base’s role has already drawn a direct threat. Britain said in July that its armed forces were ready to protect the country from any attack after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a warning not to allow US bombers to fly from Fairford — one reason Sunday’s arrests have drawn immediate international attention.

What Is Not Known Yet

Much about the incident remains unconfirmed, and authorities have given limited detail:

• How many were arrested: police have said only “several men.” No exact figure has been given by any authority, and no identities or nationalities have been released.
• Whether explosives were found: police speak only of suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The Army EOD team is still examining vehicles, and there has been no confirmation that any explosives were discovered.
• Any motive or link: nothing has been stated about who the men are, what their motive may have been, or any connection to Iran, Russia, protest groups, or anyone else. Any such claim would be speculation at this stage.
• Charges and court proceedings: none have been announced.
• The exact timing: no incident time has been published — police and the reporting describe only Sunday morning.
• Impact on US operations: the US Air Force has declined to discuss specific force-protection measures, and there has been no statement about whether operations at the base are affected.

Conclusion

Sunday’s operation at RAF Fairford is a genuinely major development: a major-incident declaration, arrests under the Explosives Act, village evacuations, an Army bomb-disposal team at work, and a US Air Force base central to the strikes on Iranian missile sites. At the same time, the official record is thin — a handful of confirmed facts against a large number of unanswered questions.

What to watch next: the next Gloucestershire Police statement will be decisive — whether the EOD examination finds anything, whether the arrested men are charged, and how long the cordon and evacuations last. Equally important will be whether the US Air Force says anything further about the security of its operations at Fairford. As with all developing stories, today’s verified facts may be updated as the day unfolds.