OMM Redaksiyası
Several people have been detained following a security incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, Britain. The airbase is used by the US Air Force.
Gloucestershire police said those detained were suspected of breaching explosives legislation. Evacuations began in several residential areas in the nearby village of Welford in connection with the incident.
Operation under way
A British army specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is inspecting several vehicles. According to a Reuters witness, armed police officers blocked the road leading to RAF Fairford’s main entrance.
About 30 emergency service vehicles, including police cars, ambulances and fire engines, were deployed in a nearby village.
Security measures at US military facility
The US Air Force declined to disclose specific security measures. A representative said the safety of personnel and facilities was being maintained under heightened security arrangements.
According to the representative, the US military was continuously assessing the security situation and adjusting measures to protect service members, civilians, contractors and their families.
RAF Fairford is considered one of the key facilities for US military operations in Europe. The airbase has previously also been used by US strategic bomber aircraft.
Possible threats linked to Iran
The incident occurred amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The British government has allowed the United States to use RAF Fairford to conduct strikes on Iranian missile facilities targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Britain in July and demanded that it not allow US bomber aircraft to operate from RAF Fairford.
Police have not said whether the people detained were linked to any specific threat against RAF Fairford or US military operations. The investigation and vehicle inspections are continuing.
The British government has also increased its focus on possible threats to critical infrastructure. Ministers have briefed infrastructure operators on the risks of possible sabotage and cyberattacks linked to Russia. Moscow has denied carrying out hybrid attacks against Western countries.
