Matty Edwards
Live page reporter

A man who lives next to the perimeter of RAF Fairford has told the BBC that local people were sent home by armed police just hours before the suspects were arrested.

The Kempsford resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, says neighbours walking along the perimeter on Saturday afternoon were told to return home and close their doors and windows.

This comes after large vehicles were parked behind the gates of the base on Wednesday, prompting residents to email the base's community liaison officer to ask what was going on.

Image source, Supplied

"The response was lacking," says the man. "It wasn't very helpful.

“The communication we got from the base throughout this whole thing has been really poor.

"There’s a real sense that we’re the lowest priority they have," he says.

“It feels frustrating when you see things about them not knowing anything about it because what we've seen for the past week suggests they did know something was happening and it was escalating in the hours before the arrests."

He says people living nearby are feeling "tense and uneasy" but the community is "coming together" during this difficult time.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

Evacuated residents have spent the night anxiously waiting for updates on when they will be allowed to return home.

Those who could not stay with family or friends were put up in hotels across Swindon and Cirencester by Cotswold District Council and they are returning to the leisure centre this morning.

Councillor Paul Hodgkinson says that despite the disruption, residents were being "very well looked after, fed and watered" and, overall, seemed "in pretty good form".

He says: "What we're all waiting for is clarity from the police as to when those residents can go back to their homes.

"At the moment, we don't have a time on that.

"But honestly, if it needs to take a little bit more time to ensure people are absolutely safe, then that's what's required."

Image source, Reuters

Hodgkinson acknowledged it was a "very worrying time for people", and praised the response of emergency services and council staff for "stepping up so professionally" in the midst of an unfolding and uncertain situation.

"Quite frankly, if it wasn't for that swift action following that phone call from the resident, then we could be in a terrible situation today, talking about something much worse."

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile in Liverpool, where the Labour Party is hosting its annual conference, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says events at RAF Fairford yesterday "are a reminder of the threats our country faces".

He has also thanked the security services, armed forces and police for their work both yesterday and "all year round".

"We will always stand up for our security against those who would do us harm," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

As our colleagues at the scene have been reporting, RAF Fairford has been unusually quiet this morning.

Only one plane has flown out and armed police officers continue to man a cordon surrounding the site.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

In response to the incident near RAF Fairford, the US Embassy has posted an alert to US citizens in the UK.

The notice urges them to "exercise caution and be mindful of personal security", warning them that US-associated events, organisations and facilities "may be at heightened risk".

People are being encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and monitor local media for updates.

No evidence that branding on three police-detained vans is from a legitimate companypublished at 10:12 BST

10:12 BST

By Charlotte Green and Benedict Garman

BBC Verify has been looking into the branding of the three white vans parked near RAF Fairford which are still being investigated by bomb disposal teams.

A verified image shows a red logo on one of the vans reading "Fuel 2You", with a mobile phone number also visible.

When contacted by the BBC, the number went straight to an automated Lycamobile voice message system.

We’ve found no evidence that "Fuel 2You" is a legitimate company operating in the UK or a real brand name.

However, BBC Verify contacted Fuel2U, a company with a similar name which delivers diesel across the UK. A spokesperson told us the vans are "nothing to do" with the company.

“From our perspective, it's a very unfortunate coincidence," they said. “It's spelled differently. The phone number is different. The branding is different entirely, so it's not a historic version of our brand."

They added that “all of our vans are present and accounted for" and "even if it was one of our vans that was stolen, it would have our logo on it. That is not our logo".

The company also confirmed it was a newly-launched business and had never used the name "Fuel 2You" in any previous form. Its branding is also accented green, rather than red.

Earlier we brought you analysis from our security correspondent Frank Gardner, who said there was a "clear inconsistency" between the eyewitness account of the incident at RAF Fairford and remarks by Donald Trump.

Speaking after the suspects were arrested on Sunday, the US president told reporters: "We had them under investigation. They were looking to ‌do big ⁠damage to our fort and working with the British worked out great.

"We had them under view for a long time, and we got them," he added.

However, a local farmer believes she helped foil the alleged plot - she called 999 at 01:36 BST after seeing suspicious activity close to the military base, including the presence of three white vans.

The farmer told the BBC that she was "absolutely staggered" that it was left to a member of the public to report the incident to police.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said this morning that the farmer only had a "partial picture" of what's been happening.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, an investigation into yesterday's incident is under way. Here's a quick look at what we know about the situation - and what is still unclear.

What we know:

• A major incident was declared near RAF Fairford after three "suspicious vehicles" were reported travelling towards the base at 00:45 BST on Sunday
• Five men remain were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and remain in custody
• A local farmer said she called the Ministry of Defence after seeing three "suspicious" white vans in the area. No one there picked up, so she then called 999 at 01:36 BST
• Residents from 85 homes evacuated from the nearby village of Whelford are yet to return home

• RAF Fairford has been used by the US Air Force to launch attacks against Iran

What we don't know:

• Details of the five suspects who were arrested
• Whether any other parties were involved
• What the authorities believe the men had planned to do
• How the authorities learnt of the situation - the aforementioned farmer believes she tipped the police off, but US President Donald Trump claims the US had been monitoring the men for "a long time"
• When locals who were evacuated will be able to return home

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has been speaking to the BBC this morning, in the wake of the incident near RAF Fairford. Here's what he said:

• An investigation into the events near the military base is "well under way", he said, but declined to go into detail about security operations
• He thanked the member of the public who called the police to report the three vans blocking the road, but said she will only have "had a partial view" of the situation

• Streeting said he understands it's frustrating for the public to not know more, but it is "a small price to pay" to protect the integrity of the police and security services
• However, he did say that "as soon as we can keep the public informed, we will", when he was asked about Donald Trump's comments that details would be shared "very soon"
• Asked about possible links between Iran and the five men arrested, he said he is not "drawing a connection with Iran" but added that "we know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm"
• He also argued for more investment in defence, saying: "In the dangerous and turbulent world we find ourselves in, investment in defence is a price worth paying"

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was asked during an appearance on BBC Breakfast earlier if the government underestimated the risk of allowing the US to use its military bases amid the war with Iran.

He says he's "not drawing a connection with Iran" and repeats that investigations are ongoing.

"We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm. We know that they hate our democracy," he continues.

Asked if the police are stepping up their presence around RAF Fairford in order to reassure locals, Streeting says he can't comment, but adds that robust measures are in place.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

Residents say multiple flights usually take off from RAF Fairford every morning "like clockwork", but the airbase is eerily quiet today.

Aside from a B-1 Lancer that reportedly took off at about 05:30 BST, there has been no activity.

Image source, Reuters

BBC reporter at the scene, Edward Rowe, tells us: "There’s not been a huge amount of activity at the base this morning but you can easily see lots of planes from the road.

"Whether Sunday's incident has meant the base isn’t operating to its full capacity, we don’t know. But one person I’ve spoken to who lives on the flight path says he’s heard fewer planes in the last 24 hours."

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

Residents evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night were taken to Cirencester Leisure Centre on Sunday, which was set up as an emergency rest centre roughly 10 miles (16km) from RAF Fairford.

Those who could not stay with friends or family had overnight accommodation arranged for them by Cotswold District Council.

At least 85 homes were affected by the sudden evacuation. Police were spotted delivering a dog to its relieved owner, after it had been left behind amidst the chaos.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said it was working to get people back into their homes "as soon as possible", but the 400m cordon still remains in place this morning, with no indication of when it will be lifted.

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

The US operates from more than a dozen military bases in the UK.

The US Air Force's main bases in the UK are: RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk - home to the 48th Fighter Wing operating F-15 and F-35 jets; RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk - mainly a base for US air refuelling tankers; RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - a large airbase which periodically hosts US Air Force long range bombers including B-52s, B1 and B2s.

RAF Fairford has recently been used by the US Air Force to carry out strikes on Iran, following a decision by the UK government in March to allow the Trump administration to conduct so-called “defensive operations” against Iranian military targets.

It’s been reported the threat alert at RAF Fairford has recently been raised to Delta - the highest level, meaning there’s intelligence relating to an imminent potential attack.

The threat level at RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall is believed to have been raised to Charlie - the second highest level when intelligence suggests there could be a potential attack.

Image source, BBC Radio 4 Today programme

During his interview on the Today programme, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting renews his thanks to the farmer who rang the police, and talks about the status of the investigation currently under way.

"At this stage in the investigation, I'm not in a position to comment on the identities of these individuals, or their aims and motivations," he says.

Further information will be provided to the public as the investigation unfolds, about the individuals and their backgrounds, he adds.

The defence secretary says the police should be given space and time to investigate, and refuses to speculate about Iranian involvement.

"We know that it is a matter of public record, that the Iranian regime is one that would do harm to our interests and to our allies given the chance, and I'm proud of the work that we do, all year and every year, to detect and to deter and prevent Iran from carrying out acts of harm."

Nick Johnson
Reporting from the scene

I’m at the edge of the police cordon leading down to the village of Whelford, where those three vans were spotted and more than 80 homes evacuated.

There is no timetable for the cordon to be lifted, which is frustrating commuters, delivery drivers and school buses.

I was here in March when the American B-1 and B-52 bomber planes first arrived, having hit targets in Iran.

I was struck by how close members of the public could get to the perimeter fence. With the base being so vast and located in a rural area, it felt very accessible at the time.

Now, almost every road which gets within a few hundred metres of the base is blocked by police.

Behind the police cordon, a bomb disposal team was deployed on Sunday to examine a number of vehicles, police said.

Pictures from a news helicopter showed a remote-controlled robot being used to inspect the stationary white vans near Whelford.

Gloucestershire Constabulary's Temporary Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said on Sunday night that the disposal unit was still examining the three vehicles and BBC reporters at the scene have been told the vans remain in place this morning.

Matty Edwards
Live page reporter

Responding to claims that the authorities "dropped the ball" by allowing the suspects to get so close to residents' homes, former British diplomat Lord Peter Ricketts says vigilance from the public is "crucial".

"I think we should wait to see the evidence and whether in fact the intelligence community was aware of this plot - something President Trump said last night suggested they may have been," Ricketts tells the BBC.

"But whether or not they were, vigilance from members of the public is crucial because the police and security services can't be everywhere all the time," he adds.

"We have to think in terms of a whole-society approach to this new world where a number of states regard us as the enemy."

A clear inconsistencypublished at 08:16 BST

08:16 BST

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Reuters

There is a clear inconsistency here between the detailed and convincing account given by the local farmer who sounded the alarm when she saw the masked and hooded men near the vans and the claim by Donald Trump that "we have had these men under view for a long time".

If the US president’s words are correct then somebody was asleep at the wheel in allowing these men to get so close to the base as to trigger what’s being called a major incident.

But Whitehall officials have been clear that this was not an "intelligence-led operation".

In those instances Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) work closely with investigations officers from MI5 to track suspects and aim to arrest them in what is often a frighteningly short window between gathering enough incriminating evidence to convict them in court but not waiting so long that the public is put in danger.

Nothing about this case looks like that.

Wes Streeting is speaking next to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.

You can listen to his interview live at 0810 BST by listening here.

Streeting concludes his appearance on BBC Breakfast by saying we have to maintain our advances, maintain our capabilities, and protect our country.

"We have to defend our country, and that is a price we have to pay for the freedom and liberty that we enjoy, and I will continue to make that case as defence secretary," he says.

"Increasing investment in defence does come with choices and trade-offs, and I would argue very strongly that in the dangerous and turbulent world we find ourselves in, investment in defence is a price worth paying.

"As we invest in defence, we will do so in a way that builds industry, jobs and opportunities in this country."