A resident of Whelford who spotted three white vans and a group of hooded, balaclava-wearing men while driving home overnight called 999, an alert that reportedly led to terrorism arrests near an RAF base.
Key facts
- A Whelford resident saw three white vans parked on a country road in the early hours of Sunday.
- She also spotted a large group of hooded and balaclava-wearing men and called 999.
- Police reportedly arrived on the scene about 15 minutes later.
- The resident, reportedly a local farmer, said she believed she had derailed a plan.
- Local people say members of a WhatsApp group noticed suspicious activity around vans in Whelford overnight.
A chance late-night encounter in the Gloucestershire village of Whelford led to terrorism arrests near an RAF base, according to the Guardian. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a resident driving home saw three white vans parked on a country road and became immediately suspicious.
Her suspicions grew, the Guardian reported, when she spotted what she described as a “large group of hooded and balaclava’d” men nearby. She called 999, and police arrived on the scene about 15 minutes later.
The resident, who asked not to be named but is reportedly a local farmer, told the Press Association that her call appeared to have disrupted whatever the men were planning. “It would appear that by doing so I just derailed whatever they [the men] were planning,” she said.
She added: “A plucky amateur shouldn’t be spotting an unusual bit of activity at 1am when the airbase is on high alert. I think it’s absolutely astonishing.”
According to the Guardian, local people said members of a WhatsApp group had noticed suspicious activity around vans in Whelford overnight, pointing to community awareness in the area at the time of the incident.
The reporting connects the resident’s 999 call to terrorism arrests at the RAF base, though the sources provided do not detail the number of people arrested, the charges, or the identities of those involved.
Why it matters
The incident highlights how a single alert member of the public can play a role in disrupting suspected activity near sensitive military sites. It also underscores the importance of community vigilance and rapid police response in areas around high-security installations.
Frequently asked questions
What did the resident see that prompted the 999 call?
According to the Guardian, she saw three white vans parked on a country road and a large group of hooded and balaclava-wearing men while driving home in the early hours of Sunday.
How quickly did police respond?
The resident said police arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after she called 999.
Who made the call?
A resident of Whelford who asked not to be named but who is reportedly a local farmer. She said she believed her call derailed whatever the men were planning.