US B-1 bombers depart UK air base following security concerns

The US has withdrawn all of its bomber jets from RAF Fairford after the base in south-west England was the target of a suspected terror plot last weekend.

The Pentagon said all B-1 bombers deployed to the base, which US forces have used to strike Iran, have returned to the US.

Counterterror police are investigating whether Iran was behind the plot. Five British nationals and a UK-Iranian national have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosive offences over the incident. All those arrested have since been bailed.

A Pentagon official told The Telegraph: “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.”

They added that the bombers remain ready “to deliver precision global strike capabilities” from the continental United States.

US officials told the Wall Street Journal the decision was in response to security concerns over suspected terror plots against the facility.

Last week, police said they found a quantity of petrol in three vans linked to the five suspects, but no explosives.

The Ministry of Defence has been approached for comment.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, said there were “strong indications that Iran played a part” in the suspected plot.

RAF Fairford, located on the border of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, regularly hosts deployments of long-range US aircraft, including B-1s, B-52 bombers and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. It also houses hundreds of US military staff.

Since March 1, US heavy bombers have taken off from the base “for defensive missions to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities”, according to the US military.

In July, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any British base used to strike Tehran was a “legitimate target”.

The Telegraph revealed last week that Israeli intelligence had warned MI5 about an imminent Iranian-backed attack on the air base shortly before Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced plans to ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.