Five food delivery guys remain in custody on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after their coordinated moped convoy toward RAF Gatesdown was mistook for an airborne assault, authorities confirmed Sunday.
By Our Crime Editor: Rob Banks
A major incident was declared at approximately 00:45 BST when defense radar detected three suspicious scooters approaching the perimeter. Military personnel immediately initiated base defense protocols, suspecting a high-speed breach rather than an attempt to deliver lukewarm peri-peri chicken within the guaranteed 30-minute window.
Counter-terrorism police and an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were deployed to the scene. Residents in the nearby village of Bulford were abruptly evacuated in their nightwear, leaving behind thermal insulated bags of their own.
“We saw the remote-controlled bomb disposal robot deploy into the treeline,” said displaced resident Arthur Pendelton, 62. “It spent forty-five minutes conducting a controlled inspection of a dropped pizza box. It was a very tense situation for the garlic dip.”
Perimeter Panic
Police established a 400-meter cordon surrounding two stationary white delivery vans and three mopeds. Hazardous area response teams spent much of the morning scanning the vehicles for energetic materials, ultimately recovering three orders of extra-large fries, two sodas, and a slightly squashed calzone.
RAF Gatesdown, currently utilized by the United States Air Force for strategic reconnaissance missions over Germany, remained on high alert throughout the night. A military spokesperson praised the quick action of the perimeter guards, noting that while no explosive devices were located, the potential threat posed by unregistered extra-spicy marinara sauce could not be ruled out.
Officials confirmed the incident is now contained. The ‘Fast Food Five’ suspects remain at Suffolk Constabulary Headquarters, where detectives are working to determine whether the drivers were attempting to dismantle Western democracy or simply following a flawed GPS route. Evacuated villagers have been told they cannot return home overnight.
Meanwhile: Two Guys take on Five Guys in copycat burger van