A HERO farmer who foiled a suspected RAF base terror attack has claimed she saw more than five men at the scene.
The late-night sighting of balaclava-clad suspects metres from led to the arrest of five men and seizure of three vans full of explosives.
last night after she foiled a bomb attack on the RAF base.
But the woman also said that she believed she spotted more men around than the five who were caught and cuffed.
She claimed: “The worst thing is that we saw more than five people and they keep saying they arrested five.
“They had the helicopters searching.”
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has now said this morning that the member of the public who phoned police about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford has only “a partial picture” of the situation.
However, the Defence Sec said he is “grateful for the vigilance of the members of the public”, who are thought to have helped alert emergency services.
Mr Streeting told Sky News this morning: “Thank you to that member of the public.
“She has done exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do.
“I’m really grateful to her – I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing.
“With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture.
“And that’s as far as I wish to go this morning but I do want to emphasise my thanks to the police and the security services because their work takes place often unsung, unreported, for good reason.”
Temporary Chief Constable for Gloucestershire Police, Maggie Blyth, indicated the force is not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.
Cops have also confirmed only five people were arrested.
The sharp-eyed farmer spotted men in balaclavas running close to the base as she drove home from a bash with her husband early yesterday.
The mum told how three vans were blocking the road outside the village of Whelford, Gloucs, adding: “We had to turn around and drive away.
“When we did that, we saw a group of men with masks and balaclavas running in front of us.”
The woman tried to call the base, used to launch , but could not get through so dialled 999.
The farmer who phoned in also left a message on her local WhatsApp group urging villagers to lock doors.
Officers arrived on the scene around 15 minutes after she dialled 999, she said.
A cordon was put in place near RAF Fairford, which is used by the US Air Force, and more than 80 evacuated households were unable to return home on Sunday night.
Asked whether the the incident “may have been driven by a hostile foreign state”, Mr Streeting also told Times Radio this morning that he did not “want to speculate at this stage of the investigation”.
The minister said: “What I can absolutely assure your listeners of is that, as and when we can, we will report back to the public about these individuals and about the nature of the threat.”
The plot came two months after said the base — used to launch US bomber strikes on the terror regime — was a “legitimate target”.
If the attack proves to be state-sponsored it would be one of the biggest by a foreign nation on British soil since .
Prime Minister called the incident “deeply concerning” and promised will “always take every step necessary” to protect people.
Armed cops swooped on the five suspects as they headed towards the base, seizing chemicals and incendiary devices from the vans, one of which had a fake sign.
The suspects, of appearance, were pictured shirtless and handcuffed by the roadside.
A major incident was declared, 85 homes were evacuated and residents were taken to a leisure centre while experts made the bombs safe.
It was suspected bombs were going to be used to attack nearby RAF Fairford, which Iran named a “legitimate target” in July.
US President claimed an investigation into the plot was underway before the arrests.
Trump had alleged plotters were “looking to do big damage” to the airbase.
He also told reporters: “It was fantastic. Working with Britain, it was an amazing job.”
Mr Streeting said Mr Trump’s comments illustrated that UK security services were made up of “extraordinary people with extraordinary capability that are respected even by a superpower like the United States”.
Britain gave the US authority to use RAF Fairford for B-1 bombers to attack Iranian missile sites which have been targeting ships in the .
Iran identified RAF Fairford as a legitimate target in its July statement, prompting a response from Britain that it “stands ready 24/7 to defend itself.”
Efforts have now been doubled into tracing cells feared to be operating in Britain since the July threat.
