A farmer who spotted a group of suspicious vans and masked men near RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday believes her actions may have disrupted what authorities are now investigating as a potential terrorist plot.
The woman, who has asked not to be identified, was driving back to her home in Whelford, Gloucestershire, after attending a party when she noticed several vehicles blocking the road near the air base.
What caught her attention was not just the vans, but the group of men she saw nearby.
Speaking to the Press Association, she said: “They would have seen the bright headlights.
“They probably thought we were the police [and] panicked.”
She added: “It would appear that by doing so I just derailed whatever they were planning.”
The woman immediately drove away and contacted police. She then warned people in a local WhatsApp group, telling residents to lock their doors.
Police arrived approximately 15 minutes after she made her 999 call, according to her account.
“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.
“It is pretty incredible, realising you had a brush with potential terrorists face to face and may have foiled a terrorist plot. It was clear they had just got there. Thank God we spotted them.”
“We realized this was something pretty serious”
The farmer told The Telegraph that she initially thought the vehicles had simply been abandoned. She later noticed what appeared to be fake phone numbers and lettering on the vans, before seeing a group of men nearby.
“I just thought what the hell are they doing… I saw a group of Middle Eastern-looking young guys running off through the trees. Some of them had masks or balaclavas on, and they all scattered ahead of us as we drove back past.
“Some of them ran into the fields, and some of them turned to run towards the air base.
“We realized this was something pretty serious. We knew the air base had a credible threat of a terrorist attack before last night. So as soon as I saw them I was worried.
“I mean, you don’t see masked men running around at half one in the morning in the countryside near a secure air base and not have concerns.”
She also questioned how someone who was simply driving home happened to notice the activity in the first place.
“A plucky amateur shouldn’t be spotting an unusual bit of activity at 1am when the air base is on high alert,” she told PA, according to LADbible.
“I think it’s absolutely astonishing.”
At the time, local residents reportedly understood that the base was under lockdown because of a “terror threat.”
The incident comes as the UK has allowed the US military to use RAF Fairford to launch attacks on Iran.
Trump speaks out as five men are arrested
US President Donald Trump addressed the incident.
“It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job,” he said according to LADbible.
“We had them under investigation. They, they were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.
“It may have been Scotland Yard, I don’t know. We worked with a lot of them.
“We had them under view for a long time, and we got them. Thank you.”
Gloucestershire Police said they received a report at 12.45am concerning “three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford.”
They said: “Armed officers responded and subsequently arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act.”
They have since been further arrested on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the incident as “deeply concerning” and added that the Government would “always take every step necessary” to protect the public.
In a post on X, he said: “I know today’s incident near RAF Fairford will be deeply concerning for local residents and for many people following developments across the country. My thanks go to Gloucestershire Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, our Armed Forces and all those working to keep the public safe.
“I am especially grateful to those residents who have been asked to leave their homes while precautionary checks are carried out.
“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. The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”
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