Five men in their twenties have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences following a police operation in Whelford, Gloucestershire. The men, all British nationals from London, were detained on Sunday after a local resident alerted authorities upon seeing three vans and a group of masked individuals near a military base in the area.

The suspects, aged between 23 and 25, come from Camden, Westminster, and Willesden in northwest London. Initial arrests were made on suspicion of explosives offences before terrorism charges were introduced. Searches were also conducted at two properties in Gloucestershire as part of the ongoing investigation.

Counter-Terrorism Policing has described the case as highly complex, with multiple lines of inquiry being pursued. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor emphasized that although the suspects have been released on bail with strict conditions governing their movements and communications, the investigation is far from over.

Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of foreign state involvement. Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated there are strong indications of Iran’s role in the suspected terror plot. Following the arrests, he convened a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee to assess the situation fully. Burnham also noted that the UK is cooperating closely with the United States on the matter, assuring the public that the situation remains firmly under control. The prime minister responded to criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the bail decision, stressing that security services continue to manage the investigation effectively.

The Gloucestershire site where the men were apprehended has recently been used by the U.S. Air Force for operations authorized by the British government, specifically for “defensive” strikes against Tehran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. This context has led security officials to scrutinize potential foreign links carefully.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting praised the prompt response of police and counter-terrorism units, describing their effort as exemplary while acknowledging that the probe is ongoing.

The identities of the five men and the details of their alleged plans have not been publicly disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the investigation. Police continue to request information from the public as they work to fully understand and address the threats involved.