British police evacuate homes near air base, men arrested on suspected explosives offenses

LONDON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- British police evacuated homes near an air base used by the U.S. military on Sunday, and several men were arrested over suspected explosives offenses, local media reported.

A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber is pictured on the tarmac at RAF Fairford base in Fairford, south-west England on September 27, 2026, as UK counter-terrorism police investigate an incident near the base in the village of Whelford. (Photo: AFP)

Residents in Whelford, western England, have been taken to a nearby leisure center, and the situation is "contained," police said.

The homes are close to RAF Fairford, a base that hosts the U.S. Air Force. After the start of the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, the British government allowed the U.S. military to use the Fairford base to strike Iranian missile sites.

Police said several men have been arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act, and army bomb-disposal experts are examining a number of vehicles.

Police did not confirm the arrests were linked to the base.