Farmers tip may have led to 5 arrests near U.K. air base used by U.S.

LONDON — A farmer’s pre-dawn alert about a group of hooded and masked men appears to have sparked a massive security operation around a British base the U.S.Air Force used to facilitate strikes on Iran.

“When they saw me they ran ahead of me — some into the field and some towards the neighboring village,” the farmer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the U.K.’s BBC News Monday.“I then realized that something highly unusual was taking place.” Police said officers responded to a call in the early hours of Sunday about three suspicious vehicles moving toward RAF Fairford, which is about 90 minutes outside London in western England.A major incident was declared, with a large emergency presence seen around the air base, shaking the normally quiet rural area in rural Cotswolds.

Five men were later arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses, and dozens of homes were evacuated near the base.Counterterrorism police are now leading the investigation.

Police establish a roadblock outside RAF Fairford base in Fairford on Sunday.Justin Tallis / AFP via Getty Images“I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me as a member of the public to see and report this,” the farmer said, adding that she believes “someone dropped the ball” by allowing the suspects so close to the base and residential properties around it.Asked if U.K.

authorities knew of the threat ahead of time or only became aware after being called by a concerned farmer as has been reported, British Defense Minister Wes Streeting told U.K.broadcaster Sky News Monday that the member of the public “did the right thing” and acted quickly.

However, she only had “a partial picture,” he added, without divulging more detail.A grainy image has also emerged appearing to show the suspects.The photo, which began circulating on social media Sunday morning, shows five men sitting on the ground topless and apparently handcuffed.

They are flanked by armed officers.The im...