A British farmer revealed exciting details about the dangerous security incident that occurred near Fairford Air Base in southwest England, which is used by American forces. She indicated that she was surprised in the early hours of Sunday morning by three white trucks blocking a country road, before she saw a group of men fleeing between the trees and fields towards the base.
According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the farmer quickly informed the police and warned her neighbors. In less than 25 minutes, the authorities were able to arrest five men, amid a large security operation, evacuating dozens of homes, and examining trucks on suspicion of containing explosive materials.
The men were initially arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, and then re-arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of her safety, told The Telegraph that she was returning from a party at one-thirty in the morning when she saw the trucks that raised her suspicions from the first moment, especially since the name of a fuel delivery company and phone number written on one of them seemed unreal.
She said: “I saw a group of young men with Middle Eastern appearance running through the trees. Some were wearing masks or face coverings, then dispersed toward the fields and the air base. "That's when I realized it was very dangerous."
She added: “It is amazing to realize that you have come face to face with people who might be terrorists, and perhaps foiled a terrorist plot.”
Trucks carrying barrels
Pictures from the accident site showed the rear doors of two of the trucks open, and large black barrels were seen scattered on the ground.
Lucy Lewis, a former British Army officer and former explosives specialist, said the incident had all the hallmarks of a major attack.
“They are rather large trucks, and huge amounts of explosives can be placed inside them,” she told The Telegraph newspaper.
She added: “They were planning a big operation.” “It is serious and real.”
Does the scheme have a connection to Iran?
Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incident, looking into a possible link between the suspected plot and the Iranian regime.
Fairford is a British base that includes the 501st Combat Support Wing, which is an administrative wing of the US Air Force.
Last March, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted the United States permission to carry out “defensive” operations against Iranian missile sites from two British bases, including Fairford.
Iran warned Britain against continuing to allow American aircraft to use the base, while local officials indicated that security measures around it witnessed a noticeable tightening during the days preceding the incident.
However, it remains unclear how aware British intelligence services are of any threat targeting Al Qaeda, if any exists.
Gloucestershire Police admitted they were only aware of the men's presence in the Welford area through an emergency call.
For her part, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Counter-Terrorism Police, Vicky Evans, said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation, and five men are still in custody. We are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.”
Late Sunday afternoon, US President Donald Trump hinted that the United States was aware of the suspected bomb plot; He stated that the men were “seeking to cause serious harm” and that the authorities had “been monitoring them for a long time.”
The authorities have not yet revealed the nationalities of the suspected men or details of the path the investigations are taking.
At the same time, a fuel company whose name appeared on one of the trucks denied any connection to the accident, confirming that its name was used without its knowledge or consent, and that it was cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.
