Police find no explosives in vans searched near RAF Fairford

No improvised explosive devices were found in three vans searched near RAF Fairford as part of a terrorism investigation, UK counter-terrorism police said. A quantity of petrol was recovered. Five British nationals were arrested in the early hours of Sunday after a resident near the Gloucestershire airbase reported suspicious activity involving the vans.

The men were released on police bail and remain under investigation. Laurence Taylor, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, defended the decision to release them. He said the men were subject to strict conditions and that the decision followed consideration of public safety and available policing powers.

The vehicles had been marked with the logo of a legitimate fuel transit company, which later denied owning them. That prompted speculation in the local community and online that the vans could have been connected with fuel theft. Residents of Whelford were able to return after about 85 households were evacuated while bomb-disposal and counter-terrorism teams worked in the area.

Some people stayed with relatives, while others were accommodated in hotels or supported at a council rest centre. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident was the work of a foreign actor but gave no details. Speculation has focused on a possible connection with Iran, although Iran’s embassy in London rejected what it called unfounded claims.

Taylor said investigators were considering whether proxies or individuals acting knowingly or unknowingly for a foreign state could be involved. The source material does not report charges, arrests beyond the five men, or a confirmed explanation for the petrol. The investigation remains active.