Gloucestershire Police said on the morning of Sunday 27 September that several men had been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and that a major incident had been declared. "A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident," the force said. Whelford lies about two miles from RAF Fairford in western England. The Army's specialist explosive ordnance disposal team examined vehicles at the scene. Police did not say whether the arrests were connected to the base or to the military operations run from it. RAF Fairford has been used by US forces since 28 February for strikes in the war with Iran.