Masked men arrested, 85 households evacuated as UK probes suspected terror plot

“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,” said Mr Burnham.

Femi Ajanaku • September 28, 2026

UK’s counter-terrorism agents on Sunday (Credit: Tampa Bay 28)

UK police have arrested five men on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. Police arrested the men around 12.45 a.m. on Sunday after a resident alerted them, reporting vehicles and a group of men wearing masks travelling towards the Royal Air Force air base.

Residents were evacuated from their homes to a leisure centre, and authorities later confirmed the situation was contained.

“We appreciate the disruption this will have caused and would like to reassure them we are working as quickly as we can to get them back in their properties. We would ask the public not to speculate but to follow official channels for updates,” Gloucestershire Police assistant chief constable Richard Ocone said.

Counter Terrorism Policing senior national coordinator, Vicki Evans, said, “We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody. As you would expect, we are working closely with our partners to understand the circumstances of the incident.

“We continue to work with Gloucestershire Police to keep the community safe as we work to gather evidence from the scene. A 400m cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit conducts examinations. As a precaution, around 85 households have been evacuated whilst these examinations take place.”

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham thanked authorities for their joint efforts to ensure public safety and residents who followed precautionary evacuation measures.

Mr Burnham said, “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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