Masked men, 3 vans, a farmer: How a tip-off may have foiled UK airbase attack

A chance encounter on a quiet country road may have helped British police foil a suspected terror plot targeting a military airbase used by US bombers, after a local farmer spotted three suspicious vans and a group of masked men near the facility and alerted authorities.

The farmer, who lives near the RAF Fairford in southwest England, came across the three white vans blocking a country lane in the early hours of Sunday while returning home from a party, reports the New York Post.

The vehicles appeared out of place, with markings advertising a company called “FUEL 2YOU” and what appeared to be an incomplete telephone number.

When she turned her car around, the farmer saw a group of men wearing masks or balaclavas emerge and scatter into nearby fields and woodland, with some apparently moving in the direction of the airbase.

The sight immediately raised alarm, particularly because residents had noticed heightened security around the base in the days leading up to the incident.

“I just thought what the hell are they doing,” the farmer told the Telegraph, recalling seeing the group running through the fields. She said some of the men appeared to be wearing masks and that others were heading towards the airbase.

She drove away from the area and contacted police. She also sent a warning to a local WhatsApp group, urging residents to secure their homes as armed officers moved into the area.

Within about 25 minutes, five men had been arrested by counter-terrorism officers.'SOMETHING WAS WRONG'

The farmer said the events of the previous week had already made residents aware that something unusual was happening around the base.

She said B-1 bombers had been stationed there until earlier in the week before being moved, while entrances to the airbase were subsequently blocked.

By Friday (September 25), civilian staff had reportedly been sent home and unfamiliar people had begun appearing in the small village, further adding to residents' suspicions.

The farmer said she now realised how dangerous her encounter could have been.

“Thinking about it now, and what could have happened if they had tried to stop me from driving away, I am quite lucky,” she told the Telegraph.

She described it as “pretty incredible” to realise that she may have encountered people involved in a potential terror attack and that spotting them could have helped prevent a plot.WHY RAF FAIRFORD WAS TARGETED

RAF Fairford has been used by the US as a base for long-range bomber operations and had recently been linked to American military strikes against Iran.

British authorities had authorised the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The development had heightened the strategic significance of the airbase. Iran's Revolutionary Guards had warned Britain in July against allowing US bombers to operate from Fairford, saying bases used to launch attacks would be considered legitimate targets.

Police have since established a 400-metre security cordon around the base and evacuated residents from 85 homes.

A bomb disposal robot was deployed around the three white vans on Sunday, while armed officers guarded the main entrance and machinery was used to block other routes into the facility.

Security was also increased at other US bases in Britain.IRAN LINK UNDER PROBE

The five men were being questioned on Monday on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences.

British counterterrorism investigators have not publicly identified who they believe was behind the suspected plot or established a motive.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, an Iranian-linked motive was considered the most likely possibility, although investigators were also examining the possibility of a Russian sabotage operation or an Islamist plot.

Defence minister Wes Streeting declined to speculate on the motive while the investigation remained active.

He did, however, point to the broader threat posed by Iran and its proxies, saying Britain regularly has to thwart attempts to threaten its interests or allies.

Britain sanctioned 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran in May, accusing them of involvement in hostile activity, including alleged attack plots and financial support for groups seeking to destabilise Britain and other countries.

Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks or plots in Britain and elsewhere.

US President Donald Trump said the suspects had been looking to cause “big damage” and had been under investigation by British and US authorities.- Ends