Residents near RAF Fairford left 'like sitting ducks'

- Published

Residents living near RAF Fairford say they have been "left feeling like sitting ducks" at the centre of major counter-terrorism probe.

Five men were arrested on suspicion of the preparation of a terrorist act after three vans were spotted near the Gloucestershire base, which the US military operates.

As 85 homes were evacuated in the middle of the night, one couple said their child had been left traumatised after witnessing armed police point a gun at their father. The BBC has approached Counter Terrorism Policing for comment.

However, an anonymous resident from Whelford said she "could not fault" the quick response of UK authorities, describing officers as "calm, thorough and precise".

Gloucestershire Constabulary said it had received a call about "three suspicious vehicles" travelling towards the military airbase at 00:45 BST on Sunday.

A 400m (1,312ft) cordon was established and a bomb disposal team was deployed.

The government believes Iran played a part in the RAF Fairford incident which resulted in five men, all UK nationals in their early 20s from London, being arrested and then bailed, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.

Counter Terrorism Policing revealed on Tuesday a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices had been found during searches.

'Uneasiness in the air'

The Whelford resident said she had noticed an "uneasiness in the air" in the the days leading up to the incident, alongside extra concrete barricades around the airbase.

"It seems as if they were absolutely aware of something, but no information was passed on to locals until it was in full swing," she said.

"We were left feeling like sitting ducks in whatever operation was unfolding.

"Regardless of if this was a dummy run, staged, a real threat or something entirely different - the lack of correspondence and care towards locals from a huge military base right next door is what feels most concerning to me."

However, she praised the response of local authorities as "incredible", adding "they have been very warm, caring and efficient in any interaction so far".

A couple, who asked not to be named, claims Whelford villagers were warned to stay home on Saturday night - hours before the alarm was first raised by a farmer.

The pair were evacuated from their home the following morning, after the vans were found abandoned at the end of their driveway.

But when the husband stepped outside, he said he was confronted by armed police.

"I was trying to get my wallet out to say, 'look I'm a resident here'," he said.

"Then one of them got out of the vehicle and put a gun on me, in my direction.

"Then the other officer also got out, put a gun on me, and said 'Who's asked you to leave?'."

The couple said they and and their terrified child were briefly trapped inside their home before managing to escape through a neighbour's property.

After being allowed to return home, the pair saw the van doors had been "blown off" and their contents emptied, with water butts and oil drums strewn on the ground.

"All of a sudden, you see on the news the five suspected terrorists have been released," the husband said.

"You're thinking, 'Is this for real?'.

"We've all been panicking for the best part of a day and a bit. Are our homes going to get blown up? Could we have been blown up?"

The family say they are "angry" over an absence of communication from authorities in the days leading up to the incident, alongside the lack of reassurance afterwards.

Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, explained the force was limited in what information it could share with residents.

"Some of that information won't be forthcoming while there is a live investigation, and it is really important for everyone in that area to understand that," she said.

Blyth assured multiple information points would be set up in the area over the coming days to offer ongoing reassurance and address concerns.

"There is a much stronger visibility around the communities affected by this major incident," she added.

But in Marston Meysey, a village located immediately south-west of the airbase, across the border in Wiltshire, residents say they would like to see equal treatment from Wiltshire Police.

Local resident Gerry, who said he was speaking "on behalf of Marston Meysey parish meeting, we've got a little working group for airbase issues," explained: "We don't really see a lot of activity for security protection from Wiltshire Police, but we see quite a lot from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Gloucestershire Police.

"We wish there was a bit more information so we could put this to bed, but there's very little. We would welcome regular updates that affect us."

Wiltshire Police neighbourhood Insp Lawrence Copeland acknowledged the concerns the recent events had caused to a "small, tight-knit community".

"Our neighbourhood teams conduct regular patrols in the village and you may notice an enhanced presence over the coming days," he said.

"We welcome being approached and we are available to speak to anyone with questions or concerns."

Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed the cordon, which was in place near the airbase, had been lifted on Wednesday afternoon.

The Whelford woman described an "eerily quiet atmosphere" in the wake of a major incident, with police, drones, and forensic investigators still circling the area.

"We have been instructed not to leave unless completely necessary, and to not take any photos or videos," the woman said.

"I'm not sure how we return to normal, or how to trust we are safe in our homes."

Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire Chris Nelson encouraged members of the public to contact the police if they witness any suspicious activity.