Trump Says Terror Suspects in Possible Iran-Linked Plot to Attack UK Base Were Being Watched: 'Looking to Do Big Damage'

President Trump praises joint U.S.-U.K. operation after five men were arrested near RAF Fairford, a key American air base used for strikes against Iran. Authorities investigate whether Tehran was behind the foiled bomb plot.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Sunday that five men arrested in connection with a suspected terrorist plot targeting a British air base used by American forces were "looking to do big damage" and had been under surveillance by U.S. and British authorities .

The arrests occurred near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, a critical U.S. Air Force outpost in Europe that has been used for strikes against Iranian missile sites during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East .

"We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great," Trump told reporters in Chicago. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them" .

The Arrests: A Tip-Off, Three Vans, and Five Men in Custody

British police received a call around 12:45 a.m. Sunday reporting three suspicious vehicles apparently heading toward the air base . Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the nearby village of Whelford on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and preparation of a terrorist act .

Gloucestershire Police declared a major incident. A 400-meter cordon was established around the vehicles, and 85 homes were evacuated as a precaution, with residents moved to a nearby leisure centre . Army bomb-disposal specialists were deployed to examine the vans, with aerial footage showing a bomb-disposal robot moving between three white vans — two with their rear doors open and large black items scattered nearby .

A local farmer told The Telegraph she alerted police after seeing a group of men, some wearing masks or balaclavas, running toward the base as she drove home from a party .

The Iran Question: 'Most Likely' Motive Under Investigation

Counter-terrorism police are investigating multiple possible motives, including Russian sabotage, an Islamist plot, and an Iran-linked operation. However, sources told The Telegraph that an Iran-linked motive is currently considered the most likely .

The focus on Tehran stems from recent history. In July 2026, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) explicitly threatened to attack RAF Fairford, declaring that "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target" . The base has been used by U.S. aircraft for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz .

Sources suggested that if Tehran were behind the plot, it would more likely have used its own operatives rather than criminal proxies, indicating possible direct involvement .

The investigation is not believed to have been intelligence-led, according to The Guardian. Police reportedly moved after the farmer's 999 call, suggesting authorities had no prior knowledge of the specific plot — despite heightened security at the base following the July threats .

Trump vs. UK Reporting: A Discrepancy on Surveillance

Trump's claim that the suspects had been under long-term surveillance appears to conflict with British reporting. The Guardian reported the operation was not intelligence-led, and The Times confirmed the arrests were "neither pre-planned nor intelligence-led" .

The discrepancy suggests either a breakdown in intelligence-sharing or Trump's characterization being more aspirational than factual. U.S. officials have not provided evidence to support the claim of extended surveillance.

What Was Found: Materials 'Consistent with IEDs'

Investigators are examining materials found inside the vans, with an initial assessment that they appeared consistent with improvised explosive devices, according to The Guardian . Bomb-disposal experts noted that large black barrels scattered around the vehicles could have been packed with ammonium nitrate fuel oil — a common component of vehicle-borne IEDs .

One van had "FUEL 2YOU" printed on the side with a phone number, but the number appeared to be one digit short and was not recognized. The company name returned no results on Companies House, and a legitimate mobile fuel delivery company with a similar name said the van had no relation to their business .

The Base: A Critical U.S. Outpost in Europe

RAF Fairford is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force's 501st Combat Support Wing and the 420th Air Base Squadron . Located about 90 miles outside London, it has been a key U.S. military facility since a Cold War-era agreement .

Since the U.S. and Israel began military operations against Iran in February 2026, the base has been used for strikes on Iranian missile sites. The UK government authorized U.S. bombers based at Fairford to carry out "defensive strikes" on Iranian targets .

Following the arrests, RAF Fairford was placed on its highest state of alert, and RAF Lakenheath, another base hosting U.S. forces, had its threat level raised to Charlie — the second-highest level .

The Bottom Line

The foiled plot has heightened tensions in an already volatile region. As counter-terrorism police continue their investigation, the central question remains: Was this an Iranian operation, or something else entirely?

For now, five men remain in custody, and the world is watching.