British cops on Sunday arrested five suspected terrorists accused of plotting a van bombing attack at a UK military base used by the US Air Force for its strikes on Iran.
Dramatic pictures show the suspects being held at gunpoint while stripped to the waist, after officers suspected they may have been wearing suicide vests for their alleged plot, according to reports.
A bomb disposal robot was later seen moving between three vans after chemicals and suspected explosive devices were found during the operation at Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, Southwest England, the UK Sun reported.
The base, roughly 90 miles from London, is the US Air Force’s command outpost for operations from Europe, and has been used for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in July previously issued a chilling warning to Britain’s government not to allow US bombers to fly from the base, which is home to the US 501st Combat Support Wing Headquarters and the 420th Air Base Squadron.
Cops evacuated locals from the nearby village of Whelford during the operation after declaring a major incident.
The five suspects are being held on suspicion of possessing explosives, with MI5 assisting counter-terror police.
Cops are continuing their investigations, but the threat is contained, according to Gloucestershire Police.
