Gloucestershire Police have declared a major incident near RAF Fairford, leading to the evacuation of villagers from their homes in the Whelford area. The action follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act.
Arrests and evacuation near RAF Fairford
The police confirmed that a number of properties are currently being evacuated in Whelford. The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team is examining several vehicles as part of the ongoing response.
Local residents are being moved to a nearby leisure centre, and a cordon has been established in the area. Authorities have stated that they believe the incident is contained, offering reassurance to the public.
Official statement from Gloucestershire Police
In a statement, Gloucestershire Police said: “A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident. It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act. The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles. The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre. A cordon is currently in place but we’d like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained. We are working closely with our partners and are enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place.”
Ongoing response and next steps
The police are working with partners to manage the situation, and the evacuation is expected to continue until the examination of the vehicles is complete. Further updates are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
