A British farmer has spoken out after alerting authorities to a group of masked men near a US bomber base, leading to five terrorism arrests.
The unnamed resident, driving home through Whelford, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of Sunday, encountered three white vans blocking a narrow country lane near RAF Fairford. The vehicles displayed branding for a fake company called “FUEL 2YOU” with a contact number missing a digit. As she turned to retreat, she spotted men in balaclavas and ski masks scattering from the vans toward the airbase perimeter.
“I just thought, what the hell are they doing… I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past,” she said.
“Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base. We realized this was something pretty serious. We knew the air base had a credible threat of a terrorist attack before last night. So as soon as I saw them, I was worried.”
The farmer cleared the area, dialed 999, and posted an urgent warning to the village WhatsApp group urging neighbors to lock their doors. Armed counter-terrorism units arrived within minutes. Within 25 minutes of her call, tactical officers had apprehended five men. Video from the scene showed the shirtless, handcuffed suspects seated on the road surrounded by heavily armed officers.
All five were detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. Intelligence officials are reportedly investigating whether the cell was directed or backed by Iranian elements seeking to strike American forces at the installation.
The raid prompted evacuation of approximately 85 homes within a 400-yard cordon of the base boundary.
Locals said security around RAF Fairford had already tightened in the preceding days. Rockwell B-1 Lancer bombers previously staged there had been relocated, and civilian employees were sent home Friday during unannounced roadblocks by armed American personnel.
Donald Trump addressed reporters Sunday about the foiled plot. “It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them,” he said.
The farmer reflected on her narrow escape. “Thinking about it now, and what could have happened if they had tried to stop me from driving away, I am quite lucky. It is pretty incredible, realizing you had a brush with potential terrorists face to face and may have foiled a terrorist plot… Thank God we spotted them.”
RAF Fairford, located in southwest England, serves as a forward-operating base for American heavy bombers and has long held strategic importance for US military operations in Europe.