5 arrested for suspected military base attack plot

5 arrested for suspected military base attack plot

Five people are in custody in connection with an alleged plot to attack a British military base that houses many U.S. military personnel.

Arrest and charges

The New York Times reported that the apparent plot targeted RAF Fairford. The air base is in the Cotswolds region.

Five men were arrested Sunday on suspicion of terrorism. All are British nationals from London and in their early 20s.

The Washington Post reported that they can be held for up to 14 days.

A farmer said she called police after she noticed “a large group of hooded and masked men” lingering near a tree line at the base, the BBC reported.

“When they saw me they ran ahead of me – some into the field and some towards the neighboring village,” the woman said.

“I then realized that something highly unusual was taking place.” She said police swarmed the area within 10 minutes of her call.

Their identities have not been released as the British government does not release identities until a person is charged.