US Withdraws Heavy Bombers From British Base Following Arrests
The redeployment removes critical American strike aircraft from Europe after British authorities uncovered a suspected attack near a staging airfield.
The United States Air Force withdrew all its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in southwestern England on Sunday after British police arrested six people in connection with an alleged terrorist plot against the military installation.
Pentagon officials confirmed that the strategic bombers returned to their home stations across the United States. The redeployment ended a deployment that supported American operations in the Middle East. Military flight tracking records showed the aircraft departing the Gloucestershire base on Sunday morning.
The security response began in the early hours of Sept. 27, when British police responded to reports of three suspicious vans near the airfield perimeter. Armed officers arrested five British men in their 20s near the village of Whelford. Investigators initially held the men on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses before granting them bail.
Searches of the vehicles uncovered quantities of gasoline but did not locate assembled explosive devices, police said.
Counterterrorism officers expanded the case Thursday by arresting a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian citizen in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Authorities released that suspect on bail Saturday.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that strong indications pointed to Iranian involvement in the incident. Tehran denied any role in the alleged plot and summoned the British ambassador over the accusations.
RAF Fairford has served as a central European staging hub for American long-range aircraft. The British government permitted the US military to launch strikes from the airfield against Iranian missile sites threatening commercial shipping.
Pentagon spokespersons stated that American bomber crews maintain readiness to conduct precision missions from airfields inside the continental United States.
British counterterrorism detectives said their investigation into the six suspects remains open as specialist units examine forensic materials and potential foreign connections.
