Police in southwestern England arrested several men on Sunday on suspicion of explosives-related offenses in a village near an air base used by U.S. forces. Gloucestershire police declared a major incident in the Whelford area, leading to the evacuation of multiple properties and the deployment of a bomb disposal team to examine several vehicles.
The incident occurred near RAF Fairford, a facility the British government has permitted the U.S. military to use for strikes against Iranian missile sites since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on February 28. While the base has seen increased security measures including roadblocks and armed patrols, police have not confirmed whether the arrests in Whelford are directly linked to the military installation.
In a separate event on Sunday in eastern England, police arrested seven individuals near RAF Lakenheath. Five men and two women at a peace encampment were detained on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, a group the British government classified as a terrorist organization last year. Protesters at the site stated they were demonstrating against the alleged use of the base for U.S. aircraft involved in the conflict with Iran.
The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, which organized the protest, said those detained wore clothing expressing support for Palestine Action. Under current U.K. law, it is a criminal offense to belong to or support a proscribed organization. Although a court ruled the ban disproportionate in February, the government has appealed the decision, leaving the restriction in place during the legal process.
The enforcement of the ban on Palestine Action directly changes the legal risks for protesters, who now face criminal charges for wearing specific clothing or expressing support for the group. The police statement emphasized their obligation to enforce the law as it currently stands. For the U.S. military, these incidents occur amid heightened security and a sensitive diplomatic environment, as the U.K. facilitates "defensive" operations for U.S. forces targeting Iranian missile sites and protecting the Strait of Hormuz.
The situation remains active as the U.K. government continues its legal appeal to maintain the ban on Palestine Action. In Gloucestershire, police described the Whelford incident as "contained" following the establishment of a security cordon. Future developments will depend on the outcome of the government's court appeal and the results of the police investigation into the explosives-related arrests near RAF Fairford.
In an unrelated U.S. case, federal prosecutors announced on March 26, 2026, that two siblings were charged after an improvised explosive device was discovered outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, earlier that month.