A family cricket match near RAF Fairford was stopped by armed police due to a ‘live incident’ eight hours before a suspected terror plot was foiled at the base.
The military site – used by US bombers to hit Iran – was on high alert after receiving intelligence suggesting an attack was possible.
Five Londoners were later arrested and since bailed following the discovery of three vans and petrol outside RAF Fairford.
However, the five suspects, who were spotted by a female farmer who called the police, were reportedly already under surveillance.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
A 25-year-old dual UK/Iranian national was later arrested in connection with the plot and also bailed.
Despite the initial 999 call about the masked men in a van being made at 12.45am on Sunday, the cricketing family were told to move away from the base at 4.30pm the day before.
The cricketer said: ‘We’d played the evening before with no issue, but on Saturday two guards ran to the fence with guns and said: “You can’t be here. There is a live incident going on. It’s not safe”.’
Residents in nearby Dunfield also said there was a public speaker announcement within the base on Saturday evening before all staff disappeared.
A local said: ‘It’s obvious the Americans, knew something way before us. But if it affects them, it affects us. We are right next door.
‘We’re frustrated and scared at the lack of correspondence from the base and UK authorities.’
It is understood that families on RAF Fairford left during the emergency and have only come back to collect certain items.
A farmer driving home in the early hours of Sunday morning tipped off police to the suspicious activity around RAF Fairford – but police were already on the scene by then, it has been reported.
One of the suspects is said to have called police himself from the scene.
It is unclear whether he got cold feet or whether it was part of their plan.
Andy Burnham has said there are ‘strong indications that Iran played a part’ in the suspected terror plot.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@usnewsrank.com.
For more stories like this, check our news page.