US B-1 bombers have been withdrawn from RAF Fairford after a suspected terror plot near the Gloucestershire air base prompted heightened security concerns.
At least 12 American aircraft had been stationed at Fairford, with some arriving only days earlier, before the Pentagon ordered them back to their home stations in the United States on Sunday.
The decision came shortly after three suspicious vehicles were seen near the base. Five UK nationals, aged between 23 and 25, were arrested initially on suspicion of explosive offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. All have since been released on bail.
A 25-year-old British-Iranian man was subsequently arrested in London on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and was also released on bail. Counter Terrorism Policing is continuing its investigation.
The circumstances emerged after one of the suspects telephoned police. Armed officers then went to the scene, detained the men and removed their clothing amid fears they could be wearing suicide vests.
No improvised explosive devices were found in the three vans, although police recovered a quantity of petrol. It remains unclear why the suspect made the emergency call.
Whitehall sources did not dispute that the US bomber withdrawal was linked to the incident. The move was understood to have been driven by military, rather than political, considerations and may have followed new security concerns at the base.
The Pentagon said: “While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States.”
It added: “The Airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities – including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States – anywhere, anytime.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement, without providing further details. Iran has denied the allegation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the suspected plot “clearly involves the hand of a foreign actor”, but stopped short of directly blaming Iran. He said the regime had “openly threatened to attack US interests globally”.
US officials had reportedly been warned of an Iran-linked attack involving a bomber aircraft, as well as a plot to kill personnel at the base.
