President Trump has said the United States removed its bombers from RAF Fairford because of “some threats”.
Reports by US media had suggested a new threat had prompted the decision to remove an estimated 12 B-1 Lancer bombers from the base over the weekend, with the Mr Trump’s comments appearing to confirm that.
Six suspects have so far been arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, and subsequently bailed, after three suspicious vehicles were reported to the police outside RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday, September 27.
President Trump told the media today they will “capture the enemy and beat the enemy”, adding that the US “actually knows the people that made the threat” – though stopped short of confirming who.
Donald Trump has said the United States removed its bombers from RAF Fairford because of ‘some threats’
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REUTERS
The US Secretary of State – in comments that now seem contrary to the President’s – echoed the Pentagon, insisting “new planes coming in, old planes going out” was normal.
Mr Rubio explained: “The Department of War is constantly reallocating resources where they need to be. There’s regular rotations that happen as well.
“We’ve documented what happened last week. I wouldn’t directly tie that to the move that was made.”
Each of the 12 bomber aircraft that had been held at RAF Fairford is understood to cost in the region of $330million.
The Pentagon confirmed all its B-1 lancer bombers were headed back to their home bases in the US after being filmed leaving the base on Sunday (pictured)
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REUTERS
The US national security advisor insisted that America remains confident in the security of all of its bases, adding they are working “very closely” with British officials, who “couldn’t be more cooperative”.
However, when Vice President JD Vance was asked what prompted the removal of the bombers, he said it was an “abundance of caution”.
He added that Iran is doing what it has “done for 49 years… which is engage in acts of terrorism against the US and against a lot of other people”.
The Islamic Republic has categorically denied involvement in the alleged terror plot.
The US Secretary of State – in comments that now seem contrary to the President – echoed the Pentagon, insisting ‘new planes coming in, old planes going out’ was normal
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REUTERSBut both Andy Burnham and Donald Trump have suggested the plot had links to the Iranian regime.
The Prime Minister said there were “strong indications” the country played a part, while Mr Trump said US intelligence had them “under view for a long time”.
British officials have admitted there is “an ongoing high tempo of threat from Iran to the UK, and it is logical that US airbases would be pretty high on any targeting list”.
A dual UK-Iranian national arrested in connection with the alleged terror threat was released on bail this weekend, according to Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP).
Five other men, all British nationals in their mid-20s, were arrested in the suspected terror plot on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism.
A police investigation remains ongoing, with six men currently on bail
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REUTERS
President Trump previously said he was “disappointed” at the decision to put the men on bail, saying he was “surprised” at the decision, adding that he “wouldn’t have done that”.
Benjamin Netanyahu also insisted Israel shared intelligence with the UK to help thwart the threat, and without it, “it would probably have gone through and we don’t know how many British lives would have been lost”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he claimed sharing intelligence is far from an isolated incident.
“I don’t know how many lives we have saved giving Britain information about impending attacks,” he told the outlet.