Downing Street has insisted RAF Fairford is safe after the US withdrew its bombers from the base over new security concerns, the Press Association reports.
Pentagon confirms redeployment
The Pentagon confirmed yesterday 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.
PM’s spokesperson responds
Asked at a lobby briefing this morning whether RAF Fairford was safe, the PM’s spokesperson said: “Yes.” He 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”.
He added: “I would just point you to the president’s words last week, where he praised our police, defence and security services in relation to RAF Fairford.”
Arrests and bail
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.
