NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! UK police say they arrested multiple suspects for offenses under the “Explosives Act” near a US airbase in southwestern England on Sunday. Gloucestershire Police say the arrests took place just two miles from RAF Fairford, which hosts US Air Force assets. The United States has recently used the base in operations related to the war in Iran. “A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident,” Gloucestershire Police said in a statement. “This follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act.”ANDY BURNHAM TAKES OVER AS UK PRIME MINISTER, CALLS FOR ‘NEW POLITICAL MODEL’ Police at a roadblock on the road to RAF Fairford after a major incident was declared, with armed police guarding a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford, which It is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Photo date: Sunday September 27, 2026. (Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images) “A number of vehicles are currently being examined by the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team,” police added. Authorities did not name the suspects or detail exactly how many were arrested. British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting wrote in X that the situation is “being resolved.” GROUP, BANNED IRGC A B1 bomber at RAF Fairford on July 25, 2026, in Fairford, England. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire a “legitimate target” after US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers used the British base to launch defensive bombing missions against Iranian military targets. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) “The Prime Minister is being kept informed about the incident in Gloucestershire,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in another statement. “We thank the emergency services, who have acted quickly to arrest several suspects and implement measures to keep the community safe,” the statement continued. “It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing,” he added. Hackers linked to Iran were suspected of forcing a small British power generator offline for several days this summer. The British shutdown came weeks after hackers attacked more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota, accessing technology used to remotely monitor and control pumps and other equipment. Minnesota officials have not publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks. Several media outlets, citing US officials and a leaked memo of threats shared by the industry, reported that Iran was the likely culprit. Members of the U.S. military unload equipment from a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy at RAF Fairford in southwestern England, March 6, 2026. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given Washington approval to use the Diego Garcia bases in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in southwestern England to bomb Iranian missile sites, after several Gulf countries were targeted by Iranian retaliation. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Federal agencies have also warned that Iran-affiliated actors have attacked similar industrial devices in the water, energy and government sectors, seeking access to the software used to control them. That activity has already caused operational disruptions and financial losses. Anders Hagstrom is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news.
