U.K. police declared a “major incident” on Sunday at a town just outside a British airbase used by the U.S. military for attacks on Iran.
Police in the southwestern English county of Gloucestershire said several properties were being evacuated in Whelford, roughly two miles from RAF Fairford, a major military facility. Local residents were directed to a nearby leisure center.
Several men have been arrested on suspicion of committing offenses relating to explosives, police said, but described the incident as “contained.”
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British Army explosive experts are “currently examining a number of vehicles,” Gloucestershire officials added.
Gloucestershire police told Newsweek they were not releasing further details at this time.
The U.K. authorized the U.S. to use RAF Fairford for “defensive” strikes on Iran in early March, shortly after the start of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Residents living close to RAF Fairford quickly reported their homes shaking as heavy U.S. bombers took off from the base.
The U.S. has used RAF Fairford as a base for multiple types of bombers, including B-1s and B-52s. The U.S. military has also used RAF Fairford, with its long runway ideal for heavy bombers, as a staging point for operations in previous conflicts, like the Iraq war.
A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said the U.S. military was “aware of the current reporting” but it said it would not divulge any specifics on how it protects its forces because of operational security concerns.
The U.S. Air Force 501st Combat Support Wing is based at RAF Fairford. The wing “and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our U.S. service members, civilians, contractors, and their families,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.
“We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families,” they added.
In July, Tehran said it considered U.K. bases used to target Iran by the U.S. as “legitimate targets,” calling London an “accomplice” in the U.S.’s war. A U.K. government spokesperson said at the time the country was “ready 24/7 to defend itself.”
Armed police cut off access to RAF Fairford’s main gate early on Sunday, according to a Reuters eyewitness. Roughly 30 emergency vehicles across the police, fire response and ambulance service were seen close to the base, the news agency reported.
Roadblocks were set up near RAF Fairford, according to local media.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.