President Donald Trump on Sunday commended British law enforcement for apprehending five men suspected of plotting a terrorist attack on a US air base in the United Kingdom, calling the operation “fantastic” and highlighting US-UK cooperation.
“The arrest in the U.K. was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job,” Trump told reporters in Chicago, according to NewsNation’s Libbey Dean. He added that the federal government was investigating the men, who were “looking to do big damage to our fort.”
Trump also said the suspects had been under surveillance for an extended period. “We had them under view for a long time and we got em,” he said.
London’s Metropolitan Police announced Sunday that the five men were arrested on suspicion of planning an attack at RAF Fairford, a base owned by the UK and operated by the US, according to The Associated Press. The base, located in Gloucestershire, southwest England, has been used by American forces to launch strikes against Iranian missile sites under an agreement with former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Police said they received a call early Sunday morning local time about three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the base, per the AP. The nationalities of the arrested men have not been made public.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham thanked Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, and the UK armed forces “and all those working to keep the public safe” following the incident.
“I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out,” Burnham wrote Sunday on the social platform X.
“The safety and security of the public is our first priority, and I want people to know that we will always take every step necessary to protect our communities and keep our country safe,” he added, urging the public “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
The incident underscores the persistent threat of terrorism and the close security partnership between Washington and London. The base’s role in US military operations against Iran has made it a potential target, and the arrests highlight ongoing vigilance against such plots. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released further details about the suspects or their alleged plans.
