President Trump credited close cooperation with British authorities for thwarting an alleged terror plot targeting a UK military installation previously used by American forces.
According to the New York Post, British police on Sunday detained five men suspected of planning an attack near Royal Air Force Fairford, a base that has supported limited US operations during the war against Iran. Intelligence sources told The Telegraph that Iran was being examined as the likely origin of the plot, following earlier threats against the facility, after locals reported three suspicious vans later believed to be carrying chemicals.
Working with Britain, it was an amazing job, Trump told reporters, underscoring the value of strong security partnerships between Western allies in the face of ongoing threats. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.
We had them under view for a long time and we got them, Trump added, suggesting that sustained surveillance and intelligence-sharing were key to preventing what could have been a major attack on a strategic NATO-linked asset. Authorities evacuated roughly 85 homes as a precaution and intercepted the suspects about two miles from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire Police said, with the men believed to be heading toward the base.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, striking a more cautious tone, appealed for restraint as the investigation proceeds. 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, Burnham posted on X.
The investigation remains ongoing, and I would urge people not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts, he added, even as the episode highlights the continuing reality of Islamist and state-linked terror threats and the necessity of robust national defense, vigilant citizens, and decisive law-enforcement action.
Login