6th October, 2026 | News

Seventh Man Arrested in RAF Fairford Terror Investigation

Counter Terrorism Policing has arrested a seventh man in connection with an incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the events.

A 22-year-old British national was arrested in Westminster on Tuesday, October 6, on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, police said.

The arrest is the latest development in an investigation that began after three suspicious vans were stopped near RAF Fairford on September 27.

Six Others Remain on Police Bail

Police said six other men in their 20s remain on police bail.

Five of the men were arrested on September 27, while another man was arrested on October 1. All six have since been released on police bail as the investigation continues.

Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said the investigation remained active, with specialist teams pursuing multiple lines of inquiry.

“This remains a live investigation and our specialist teams continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding events near RAF Fairford,” Evans said.

She thanked members of the public for their cooperation and said investigators were working to establish the motivation behind the events.

“We remain committed to investigating all possible angles,” she added.

US Bombers Removed From RAF Fairford

The investigation comes after US military bombers were removed from RAF Fairford over the weekend, although the precise reason for the redeployment remains unclear.

US officials have reportedly said the aircraft were moved partly because of a reported threat of a possible Iranian drone attack targeting the base.

The officials, who spoke anonymously to NBC, could not establish whether the alleged threat was imminent.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that threats had played a role in the decision to move the aircraft, saying the planes had not been relocated “by accident.”

US Vice President JD Vance said the aircraft were redeployed “out of an abundance of caution” to protect US personnel.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to distance the redeployment directly from the security alert near RAF Fairford, saying military assets are routinely moved around the world for exercises, rotations and other operational reasons.

Investigation Continues

Counter Terrorism Policing said the investigation remains ongoing, with officers continuing to examine multiple possible explanations for the events near the Gloucestershire airbase.

The latest arrest does not indicate that charges have been brought against the suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigators establish more details about the incident and any potential links to the reported security concerns surrounding RAF Fairford.