LONDON — Police have arrested five British nationals in connection with a massive security operation near a base the U.S. Air Force used to facilitate strikes on Iran, the counterterrorism officials running the operation said Monday.
\n\nThe men, all from London, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after three suspicious vehicles were seen moving toward RAF Fairford, which is about 90 minutes west of London. Dozens of homes were evacuated and a large emergency presence was seen around the installation, shaking the normally quiet rural area in rural Cotswolds.
\n\n“This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the [Ministry of Defence], and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Met’s counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator.
\n\nEarlier, a local farmer recounted how she had seen a group of hooded and masked men early on Sunday morning.
\n\n“When they saw me they ran ahead of me — some into the field and some towards the neighboring village,” the farmer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the U.K.’s BBC News Monday. “I then realized that something highly unusual was taking…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/
