Counter terrorism officials have launched an emergency operation to clear explosives from a residential area near the runways of a Royal Air Force bomber hub in Gloucestershire. British police are neutralizing bombs found in three vans in the village of Whelford after local residents reported the suspicious vehicles overnight, leading to a "major incident" declaration and the evacuation of several homes to a local leisure centre.

The discovery follows the arrest of multiple men under the UK Explosives Act. RAF Fairford, the only site in Europe where the US Air Force maintains heavy bombers and currently hosts five B-1 Lancers, is operating under FPCON Delta, the highest alert level. Security also increased at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, with Lakenheath on FPCON Charlie. While Iran's Revolutionary Guard has previously targeted Fairford, British authorities have not yet confirmed a motive for the arrests.