What we know about RAF base counter-terror investigation

Five men person been arrested connected suspicion of explosive and coercion offences aft a large incidental was declared astatine an airbase successful the westbound of England.

Bomb disposal teams person been examining a fig of vehicles adjacent RAF Fairford successful Gloucestershire and dozens of homes successful the surrounding country person been evacuated.

Here is simply a summary of what we cognize truthful far.

RAF Fairford is located successful the Cotswolds, astir 4 miles (6.4km) southbound of the municipality of Fairford, which sits on the River Coln.

The basal shares a agelong past with the American military, and has precocious been utilized by US warplanes arsenic a staging station for antiaircraft strikes connected Iran.

Local constabulary said they received a telephone astir "three suspicious vehicles" travelling towards RAF Fairford astatine 00:45 BST connected Sunday.

Five men were aboriginal arrested by equipped officers adjacent Whelford, a Cotswold colony astir 2 miles (3.2km) south-east of the base.

A weaponry disposal squad was besides deployed to the colony to analyse a fig of vehicles, astir which a 400m (1,312ft) cordon has been placed.

Aerial pictures showed a remote-controlled robot approaching 2 stationary achromatic vans successful a wooded area, though its usage has not been confirmed by police.

There has been ample exigency work beingness successful the country since the aboriginal hours of Sunday, which Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said would stay "for immoderate time".

Ocone told a quality league connected Sunday day that "work to found the afloat quality of the incidental is ongoing".

Counter Terrorism Policing are present starring the investigation. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said officers were "working closely" with partners to "understand the circumstances of the incident".

The 5 men were initially detained connected suspicion of committing offences nether the Explosives Act.

They were past further arrested connected suspicion of mentation of a violent act.

The men, who stay successful custody, person not been named.

US President Donald Trump said those arrested were "looking to bash large damage", adding: "We had them nether presumption for a agelong time, and we got them."

BBC Your Voice has since received an representation purporting to amusement the infinitesimal 5 men were arrested.

It showed detained men successful Whelford, astir 350m (1148ft) from runway entree astatine Crash Gate 6A astatine RAF Fairford.

The BBC has been incapable to verify the archetypal root but BBC Verify has geolocated the representation and confirmed it appeared to beryllium authentic.

Eighty-five households person been evacuated and residents person been urged to structure astatine a adjacent leisure centre.

Several radical person told the BBC they were woken by constabulary successful the mediate of the nighttime and ordered to permission their homes.

"We conscionable had to propulsion our apparel connected and come. We didn't cognize anything," 1 resident, who named herself lone arsenic Jo, said.

Another resident, Jason, said: "It each happened precise quickly. We conscionable packed our worldly up and came here."

Several radical successful the leisure centre are inactive wearing their pyjamas, according to a BBC newsman there.

Gloucestershire County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson has told PA quality bureau determination is simply a accidental that the evacuated residents whitethorn person to enactment overnight portion the country astir their homes is made safe.

One Whelford nonmigratory has described the infinitesimal helium said helium saw constabulary apprehend the suspects.

Jeff told the BBC helium heard "shouting extracurricular his beforehand door", though helium could not beryllium definite wherever it came from.

He said helium past looked retired of his model and saw "people being held by constabulary outside".

Another man, Julian Tudsbery, said: "There were these 3 vans that arrived successful the mediate of the colony and a nonmigratory reported them to the constabulary consecutive away."