RAF Fairford ‘safe’ after US withdraws bombers, Downing Street says

Downing Street has insisted RAF Fairford is safe after the US withdrew its bombers from the base over new security concerns.

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that aircraft which were being stationed at the Gloucestershire base had been “redeployed to their home stations in the United States”.

The move follows the arrest of six individuals over the past week in connection with a suspected terror plot targeting the base.

US officials told the New York Times the redeployment of the bombers, which have been involved in carrying out strikes on Iran, had been ordered after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend.

Asked on Monday whether RAF Fairford was safe, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Yes.”

He also pointed to comments by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting saying there were “tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world”, but he declined to comment further on “foreign nations’ military operations”.

The five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, arrested near the base on September 27 have since been released on bail.

A sixth man, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, arrested on October 1, has also been released on bail.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week there were “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident.

A Pentagon official said on Sunday: “US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.

“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.

Police at a road block on the road to RAF Fairford after five people were arrested (Ben Birchall/PA)

PA Wire

“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.”

RAF Fairford has been used in recent months by US bombers after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer granted Washington permission to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran during the Middle East war.

Counter-terror police have said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the vans that sparked the security alert.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel had handed Britain intelligence about the suspected terror plot.

Mr Netanyahu said his country warned UK authorities about the “Iranian-sponsored attack” shortly before Britain’s announcement of a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Earlier in the week, US President Donald Trump said he was “disappointed” after the five men were released on bail.

He told reporters: “We were involved in (the investigation), but as you know, your fellow countrymen let them go.

“Well, they didn’t let them go. They put them out on bail. I assume they haven’t watched closely… they should not have done that.”