Mystery over UK airbase scare as police find petrol, not explosives

Armed Police stand outside RAF Fairford base in Fairford, southwest England on September 28, 2026, a day after British counter-terrorism police were probing "a major" incident near the base used by the US Air Force. Photo / Ben Sanstall, AFP

A UK probe into a suspected bomb plot at an airbase used by the United States is mired in confusion, as police say no explosives but a “quantity of petrol” was found in vehicles seized nearby.

Police were called to the Royal Air Force Fairford base in southwest England on Sunday after a resident saw several vans “acting suspiciously”, triggering an evacuation of the nearby village and the declaration of a “major incident”.

“Those vehicles have been subject to extensive examination ... and we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found. However, a quantity of petrol was recovered,” National Counter Terrorism Policing head Laurence Taylor said.

There have been huge questions around the incident after five London-based Britons were released on bail on Monday after being arrested early on Sunday on explosives and terror offences, with Washington criticising their release.

“I understand why this development will have come as a surprise to many, but I’d like to reiterate that it was investigative decision,” Taylor added, after US President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” by the decision.