US government issues stark warning after UK 'RAF base terror attack'
The US embassy in London has weighed in on the shocking alleged plot against RAF Fairford that saw five men arrested.
It all began in the early hours of Sunday (27 September) when a farmer was driving home to the village of Whelford around 1am after attending a party.
At some point, she claims she saw three large white vans blocking the road, and a group of ‘Middle-Eastern looking’ men in hoods and balaclavas fleeing into the surrounding trees.
Startled, the farmer called the police, alerted a local resident WhatsApp group to tell people to lock their doors, and also let the Ministry of Defence know her findings.
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25 minutes later, five men were arrested on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences.
RAF Fairford is notable for being used by the US military to launch attacks on Iran.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned the UK in July not to allow US bomber planes to leave the location, adding that 'any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces'.
Now, the US government has warned its citizens to 'exercise caution' in Britain.
The US Embassy in London said it was 'aware' of the arrests of men who were 'looking to do big damage' to US forces.
“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 per a press 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.”
"We had them under view for a long time"
Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the farmer who called 999 said she had assumed the roads around RAF Fairford were being monitored, and she felt 'quite lucky' that the suspected terrorists didn't try and stop her car as she drove away.
She told the Telegraph: “We knew the air base had a credible threat of a terrorist attack before last night. So as soon as I saw them I was worried. I mean, you don’t see masked men running around at half one in the morning in the countryside near a secure air base and not have concerns.”
This seems to contradict Donald Trump's comments about the suspects.
He claimed the arrests came after a joint operation between the US and UK whilst talking with the press last night as he landed back in Washington DC from Illinois.
He said: “We know all about them. You'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them.”
Earlier, he also noted: “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.”
Britt Jones