London, UK - President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the five people arrested on terrorism-related charges in the United Kingdom were aiming to do significant damage to the UK base that houses US troops and aircraft.
"We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great," Trump said while on a visit to Chicago. "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."
London's Metropolitan Police said on Sunday that five men had been arrested on suspicion of preparing a "terrorist act" after an incident near an air base in southwestern England used by the US Air Force.
Armed officers detained the group in the early hours after a call to emergency services about three "suspicious vehicles which appeared to be travelling towards the air base", London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
"Counter Terrorism Policing can now confirm they are leading an investigation into an incident which took place overnight near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire," the Met said.
Broadcast aerial footage showed a bomb disposal robot moving around the vans, two of which had their rear doors open.
Police believed the incident had been "contained" and a 1,300-foot cordon had been put in place.
Armed officers could be seen guarding the entrance to the base.
In March, then prime minister Keir Starmer granted permission for "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from two UK bases, including Fairford.
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being kept updated on the incident, a government spokesperson said.