The United States has withdrawn its bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire following a suspected terrorist plot near the British airbase.
A Pentagon official confirmed on Sunday that the US aircraft had returned to their home bases in the United States. The withdrawal reportedly involved about a dozen B-1 bombers, although the US has not disclosed the specific reason for the redeployment. The decision comes days after counter-terrorism police launched an investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford.
On September 27, police received a report at about 12:45am concerning three vehicles apparently travelling towards the base. Armed officers responded and arrested five men in the nearby Whelford area. The suspects were initially detained over alleged offences under the Explosives Act before also being arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
Authorities later released the five men on bail as the investigation continued. A sixth man, a 25-year-old British-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested in London and also released on bail. The investigation has examined whether a foreign state was involved. UK officials have indicated possible Iranian involvement, although Tehran has denied any connection to the incident.
The incident triggered a major security response around the base, including a cordon and the deployment of military bomb-disposal teams. Dozens of nearby households were also evacuated while investigators examined the vehicles.
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RAF Fairford has served as a forward operating location for the US Air Force for decades. In recent months, the base has been used to support US bomber operations connected to the conflict involving Iran.
Iran had previously warned that facilities used to launch attacks against its territory could be considered legitimate military targets. US President Donald Trump had earlier said he was surprised that the suspects were released on bail, while praising cooperation between British and American authorities.
The Pentagon has stressed that the withdrawal does not leave US bombers unable to conduct operations. The aircraft can launch missions from bases in the continental United States if required. The British Ministry of Defence has not publicly commented on the US decision.
