The US government has today warned its citizens to 'exercise caution' in Britain after an alleged terror plot targeting a rural RAF base used by American bombers during strikes on Iran was foiled by a farmer.
The US Embassy in London said it was 'aware' of the arrests of five men near RAF Fairford who were allegedly 'looking to do big damage' to US forces, and urged Americans in the UK to remain vigilant.
'US citizens are encouraged to exercise caution and be mindful of personal security. US citizens are advised to follow instructions of local authorities for their personal safety and security,' they said in an official release.
'We remind US citizens that UK authorities rate the threat of terrorism in the UK as severe. US-associated facilities, gatherings, and organisations may be at heightened risk'.
Donald Trump appeared to nod when asked by reporters last night whether the suspects were migrants. However, he did not answer directly, saying only: 'We know all about them.'
A Gloucestershire farmer has revealed how she came face to face with the five suspected terrorists and helped thwart the alleged plot in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Driving home from a party shortly after 1am, she was startled to find three large white vans blocking a road near RAF Fairford, the base used by US B-1 Lancer bombers involved in strikes against Iran.
Her arrival sent a group of 'Middle Eastern-looking' men wearing balaclavas fleeing into nearby woodland and across fields surrounding the base.
The farmer, who has not been named, immediately called 999, alerted the Ministry of Defence and posted a warning in a WhatsApp group for residents in the nearby village of Whelford, urging them to stay indoors.
Within 25 minutes, the five suspects had been rounded up and arrested by armed counter-terrorism officers. Investigators are examining whether the alleged plot had links to Iran.
She said: 'A plucky amateur shouldn't be spotting unusual activity at 1am when the air base is on high alert. I think it's absolutely astonishing.'
He said: 'She has done exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do, and I'm really grateful to her.
'I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing. With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture, and that's as far as I wish to go this morning.'
RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, is the US Air Force's command outpost for operations from Europe and has been used for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The base was the subject of a warning from Iran's Revolutionary Guard in July, with the regime warning Britain not to allow US bombers to fly from the base.
America's three main bases in East Anglia, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, are also on high alert today after the foiled plot yesterday.
Donald Trump appeared to nod to reporters when asked if the men arrested were migrants to the UK last night - but did not answer the question, only saying: 'We know all about them'
Five men were pictured as police arrested them on terror charges this morning near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
Three white vans have been probed by a wheeled robot attached to the bomb squad after five men were arrested following a 'foiled terror plot' on RAF Fairford (pictured)
Heavily-armed personnel are seen at the main entrance to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
Last night as he landed back in Washington DC from Illinois, President Trump hailed US-UK co-operation to foil the attack - and insisted that the group were known to police and being watched.
He said when asked if the US knew about the attack he said: 'We know all about them. You'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them.'
Earlier in the day he said: 'It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.
'It may have been Scotland Yard, I don't know. We worked with a lot of them. We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.'
The arrests are not believed to be part of a pre-planned operation, meaning police were previously unaware of the plot.
In fact a hero farmer has revealed how she came face to face with five suspected terrorists and helped foil a major terror attack in the dead of night.
Driving home from a party in the early hours of yesterday morning, she was shocked to see three large white vans blocking a road close to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Her arrival reportedly sent a group of men in balaclavas fleeing into nearby trees and across fields surrounding the base, which was recently used by US aircraft involved in strikes on Iran.
The farmer, who has not been named, called 999 and within 25 minutes the five suspects had been rounded up and arrested by armed counter-terrorism officers.
The 'masked' men were later filmed shirtless amid reports they may have been on a suicide mission armed with explosive vests aimed at destroying a fleet of US B-1 Lancer bombers based at Fairford.
Worryingly, the farmer claimed she had seen more suspects than the five arrested at the scene.
'They probably thought we were the police and panicked,' she said last night.
'Thinking about it now, and what could have happened if they had tried to stop me from driving away, I am quite lucky.'
She added: 'It is pretty incredible, realising you had a face-to-face brush with potential terrorists and may have foiled a terrorist plot. It was clear they had only just arrived. Thank God we spotted them.'
Around 85 homes were evacuated from the nearby Cotswolds countryside as armed police and the SAS swooped in while the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team searched for more bombs.
The group were shirtless and handcuffed, suggesting police suspected they may be wearing suicide vests
They were reported around 12.45am by a heroic local who saw them 'acting suspiciously' near three white vans close to the perimeter of the air base, which were later found to contain viable incendiary devices
Maggie Blyth, Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, said the incident was now believed to have been 'contained'.
'These arrests will no doubt have caused some shock and anxiety and we want those living locally to RAF Fairford and across Gloucestershire to be sure and to know that, as agencies, we are working closely together to support them,' she said.
'You will appreciate this is a fast-moving situation and all agencies across Gloucestershire are actively working to respond to our communities' needs and continue to provide information to our communities on a regular basis, we will also continue to assist counter-terrorism policing with their investigation and liaise with other national partners.
'I can give reassurance that we believe the matter to be contained and as a set of agencies working together across Gloucestershire, we are gathering and responding to local intelligence all the time.'
A bomb disposal robot from the Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team was seen on Sunday moving between the three parked vans. Two vans' rear doors were open and what appeared to be large black barrels could be seen outside.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government will 'always take every step necessary' to protect the country following the major incident.
He wrote on X: 'I know today's incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country.
'My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe.
'I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out. The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe.
'The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.'
RAF Fairford has been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington's Department of Defense.
Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports that RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.
A spokesman for the 48th Fighter Wing told the Daily Mail: 'We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified.
'Please be assured that the Tri-Base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell) remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors, and their families.'
The resident who pictured the group's arrest told this newspaper: 'I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.
'I couldn't tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles. On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up. They all had their shirts removed.
A shot from the BBC's live feed showed the proximity of the vans (circled) to the air base
'They were instructed to sit down. They were patted down by the officers and then had their shoes and socks removed.
'I think they must have been there for about half an hour. The suspects were then told to get up and were walked round the corner.
'I lost sight of them after that but I presumed they were put in police vans and led away. This all happened just outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford.
'The police are investigating three work vans parked a few hundred yards from my house. We've not been told much, we were just asked to evacuate our homes early this morning.'
Police were alerted to the incident in the early hours by a hero resident who reported men 'acting suspiciously' to police.
Julian Tudsbery, who has lived in Whelford for 30 years, said a local had reported three 'suspicious vans' in the village.
'Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn't answer the phone,' he said. 'It just rang out so she dialled 999.'
In June, the US government said it would spend around $500million (£377million) on 'expansion and military infrastructure' at the base, understood to include a new hangar complex.
A B-1B Lancer bomber pictured at the air base, which has been used to mount US strikes against Iran since the US-led war began
A month earlier the Royal International Air Tattoo, set to be held at the base in July, was cancelled after the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) said the 'escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East' had required a 'significant increase in real-world operational missions' from RAF Fairford.
RAFCTE said both the Royal and US air forces needed to 'maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base'.
Shortly after the US and Israel began the war with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed in a bid to 'address safety and access issues'.
Protective screens were mounted on the base's perimeter fences in March to stop filming after it became popular with plane spotters when US bombers began arriving.
That month US military personnel at the base were pictured preparing explosives at the base as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.
The Daily Mail reached out to The White House for comment.