US pulls entire B-1 strategic bomber fleet from UK base after terror scare

The United States has removed its entire fleet of B-1 strategic bombers from a UK air base one week after several men were arrested there on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, a Pentagon official said.

A dozen B-1 bombers were stationed at RAF Fairford air base, located northwest of London. The planes had been used for US strikes on Iran.

"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," a Pentagon spokesman said on Sunday.

Britain has "strong indications" that Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting the base, Prime Minister Andy ​Burnham said subsequently.

Tehran said accusations linking Iran to the alleged plan were baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the issue.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that the aircraft were removed from the base amid security concerns over suspected terror plots against the facility.

"Hands of a foreign actor"

The British government had allowed the US to use bombers based at Fairford to strike Iranian sites.

The Gloucestershire airfield was a primary staging hub to launch bomber strikes during the Iran war.

Five men travelled to Fairford in three white vans last Sunday. British police said no explosives were found in the vehicles, although they contained quantities of fuel.

Police arrested the group after one of the men contacted them to alert them to the suspected plot.

A sixth man, a dual British-Iranian citizen, was arrested several days later on suspicion of involvement in planning a terrorist act. He was also subsequently released on bail.

US President Donald Trump said those involved in the plot had planned "big damage", while US ​Secretary of State Marco Rubio also pointed to the "hands of a foreign actor."

Source: TRT