President Donald Trump has spoken out after five British men were arrested near a U.S.-used air base in England in connection with a suspected terror plot.
The five men, all British nationals from London and in their 20s, were arrested early Sunday near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Police said the arrests followed a report about three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base. The men were initially detained over suspected explosives offenses and later arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said U.S. and British authorities had been working together and that the suspects had been under investigation. He said he believed they were “looking to do big damage” to the base.
RAF Fairford is a British military base that has been used by the U.S. Air Force, including American bombers. The arrests triggered a major security response, with bomb-disposal experts examining three white vans and about 85 nearby households evacuated while the area was secured.
On Monday, British counter-terrorism police announced that all five men would be released on police bail. Authorities stressed that the investigation is not over and said the suspects remain under investigation under strict conditions.
Investigators are examining multiple possible explanations, including whether the suspected offenses could have involved a foreign state or other actors. A possible connection to Iran is being investigated, but no such link has been established. Iran has categorically denied involvement.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what the men were allegedly planning and why they were near the base.