Five arrested on terrorism charges after explosives found near RAF base used by US

Counter-terrorism police in the UK have arrested five men on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after explosives were discovered in three vans near RAF Fairford. The base is frequently used by the US military for missions against Iran, which has previously issued threats against the facility. A member of the public foiled the suspected plot by alerting authorities to unusual late-night behavior. Following the arrests, police evacuated 85 households in the nearby village of Whelford and deployed bomb disposal robots to examine the vehicles. While investigators are exploring a potential Iranian motive due to recent tensions and official threats from Tehran, they have not ruled out other possibilities. The arrests were not intelligence-led, raising concerns regarding the security services' awareness of the threat. The incident has caused significant local disruption and prompted a large-scale emergency response in the Cotswolds. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and other officials are closely monitoring the situation as investigations continue. The UK threat level remains at 'severe', indicating that an attack is considered highly likely. Authorities are working to confirm whether the devices found inside the vans are viable.