Armed police responded after a farmer reported suspicious activity close to RAF Fairford (Stock photo)
A vigilant Gloucestershire farmer helped trigger a major counter-terror response near RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday (27 September) after spotting masked men and suspicious vehicles close to the airbase.
Five men were later arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act following the incident near the Gloucestershire base.
The farmer, who lives in Whelford and has asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that she had encountered three white vans blocking the road and her driveway while returning home from a party.
After turning around and driving a short distance, she saw what she described as "a large group of hooded and masked men".
She said some of the men ran into a field while others headed towards the neighbouring village of Kempsford after noticing her vehicle.
"I then realised that something highly unusual was taking place," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Aware that RAF Fairford was operating at a high security level, according to her account, the farmer said she first tried to contact Ministry of Defence Police but received no answer.
She then called 999 at 01:36 and said armed officers arrived in the village within around 10 minutes.
"I think it was pure luck that I arrived in the village at a similar time to the vans," she said.
The farmer questioned security around the wider area, saying attention appeared to have been focused on the airbase rather than surrounding rural roads and homes.
"I'm absolutely staggered that it was left to me, as a member of the public, to see and report this," she said.
She also raised concerns about the time taken to evacuate nearby residents.
Around 85 households were later evacuated as a precaution while an explosives disposal team examined the vehicles.
The farmer believes her emergency call played a significant role in the response.
"I believe my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had," she said.
Police had received an earlier report at around 00:45 concerning three suspicious vehicles which appeared to be travelling towards RAF Fairford.
The farmer questioned why that report came almost an hour before her own 999 call.
It remains unclear from the information released so far whether the earlier report came from another witness or related to the same observations.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting thanked the farmer for raising the alarm but cautioned that she did not have the full operational picture.
"I would also just say, respectfully, that she has a partial picture," he said.
Streeting declined to give further details about operational security surrounding the incident.
Police established a 400-metre cordon around the vehicles while the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit carried out examinations.
RAF Fairford is used by the United States military, while the farmer said the base had been operating at a high security level.
The five men remain in custody while enquiries continue.
Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation alongside Gloucestershire Police.