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A local farmer who called the police after spotting "a large group of hooded and masked men" near Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford said Monday she believes her 999 call foiled the suspected plot, adding that "someone really dropped the ball" on security around the base.
Britain's Defense Secretary Wes Streeting thanked her but said she has "only a partial picture," as counterterrorism police investigate five men arrested near the base on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
The farmer's account raises questions about security around a base used by U.S. bombers in the Iran war.
Police are investigating a possible Iranian link, though sources say no motive, including an extremist one, has been ruled out, the Guardian reported.
The farmer told BBC Radio 4's "Today" show that she was returning home late from a party early Sunday when she found her driveway and the road blocked by three white vans.
"On driving a short distance from the vans, I saw a large group of hooded and masked men. When they saw me, they ran ahead of me, some into the field and some towards the neighboring village of Kempsford," she said.
"In light of my awareness of a security threat to the base, I immediately called the MoD (Ministry of Defence) police, the phone rang out and they didn't answer. At 1.36 a.m. I called 999 to report what I had seen. Within 10 minutes, the village was full of armed police," she said.
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"I am absolutely staggered that it was left to me, as a member of the public, to see and report this," the farmer said.
She said the base had a roadblock near its entrance but not on other roads.
"Clearly, this was not happening, and I believe that my 999 call foiled whatever plans they had," she said, referring to patrols around the perimeter.
"Even more surprising that, following my call at 1.36 a.m., the police were aware of the presence of the three vans, but didn't evacuate the village until 6:00 a.m.," she added, noting, "I'm just really keen to highlight that it appears someone really dropped the ball on this."
"Thank you to that member of the public. She has done exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do," Streeting told Sky News.
"With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture. And that's as far as I wish to go this morning," he added.
"At this stage in the investigation, I'm not in a position to comment on the identities of these individuals, or their aims and motivations," he told the BBC.
He said he was "not drawing a connection with Iran" but added: "We know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm."
U.S. President Donald Trump said the suspects had been under investigation.
"We had them under view for a long time, and we got them," he told reporters.
"We know all about them, and you'll be hearing about it very soon. We caught them," he added.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said there was a "clear inconsistency" between Trump's remarks and the farmer's account. The PA news agency had reported Sunday that the police operation was not intelligence-led.
The U.S. Embassy urged Americans in Britain to exercise caution, saying "U.S.-associated facilities, gatherings and organizations may be at heightened risk."
About 85 households remain evacuated behind a 400-meter cordon, with no indication of when it will be lifted. A logo reading "Fuel 2You" on one of the vans does not match any legitimate British company, BBC Verify found.
Counterterrorism police are expected to give an update on the RAF Fairford investigation later Monday.
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