Politics · Live Wire
Residents living near RAF Fairford say they were told to stay indoors hours before police received a call about an alleged foiled bomb plot – with one claiming they were told an attack was about to happen. The Independent has seen message from a WhatsApp residents’ group chat showing that, shortly before 6pm on Saturday, one resident claimed to be told by armed officers that there was intelligence over an “imminent” attack. Another said they were told to make their way home and stay indoors.
Five British nationals in their 20s were arrested on Sunday, initially on suspicion of explosives offences and later terrorism, after an incident near the military airbase in Gloucestershire, which is used by US bombers. Counter-terrorism officers are understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to the suspected terror plot. “On Saturday afternoon, some of our neighbours were walking their dogs up the lane,” Charlie Clements, a local resident told The Independent .
“They were approached by armed police, and they were basically told to go home. “All they were told was that they were asking people to stay away from the base, but they wouldn't say anything.” Mr Clements, whose village of Kempsford is right at the end of the RAF Fairford runway, also told The Independent that music started playing from the RAF base just before the threat was reported at 1:30am. “I think it was about 12:10am – my dog started going absolutely ballistic like there was somebody outside.
I went downstairs, I let him into the garden. But when I opened the back door, I could hear music coming from the airbase. “Every now and again, they'll play the American National Anthem.
They have sirens that go off at certain times that they test. “I was like, ‘This is really odd.’ So I went upstairs after I put the dog back, opened the window upstairs, and it was still playing, which was really strange, and it felt really... I don't know.
It was misty outside. It was really eerie – like something out of a horror film.” “But what was really strange, at twelve minutes past twelve, they started playing ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel.” A local woman reported suspicious activity in the early hours of Sunday, 27 September, after spotting a “large group of hooded and masked men” emerging from three large vans. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the woman said she noticed something “highly unusual was taking place” and attempted to contact the Ministry of Defence police but received no response.
She contacted 999 at 1.36am as she was aware that RAF Fairford had been operating at a high security level at the time. Wes Streeting has said the farmer who phoned police about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford has only “a partial picture” of the situation. On Monday, Counter-Terrorism Policing (CTP) said that multiple new lines of inquiry have emerged after investigators were working at the scene overnight.
CTP senior national coordinator, deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans said: “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MoD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community. “I know this has been incredibly disruptive for local people, but I’d like to reassure them that our activity is in the interest of national security, but most importantly in the interest of their own safety. The five suspects are being held under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and officers have been granted an initial extension until later today to hold them in custody.
They are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, and one aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London. Gloucestershire police have been contacted for comment.
Source: The Independent
