Sky News halted its usual programming as presenter Jonathan Samuels revealed that the US has pulled all Air Force bombers out of RAF Fairford, according to the Pentagon.
Samuels read the statement live on air: "The US has taken all Air Force bombers out of RAF Fairford, this is according to the Pentagon. In a statement, they say, US Air Force routinely operates 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 station back in the United States."
The broadcaster continued: "The airmen operate America's bomber force that includes the B-1s, B-2s and B-52s, that remain ready to deliver precision, global strike capabilities, including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States, anywhere, anytime."
Pentagon statement follows arrests
During the report, Jonathan confirmed: "That's a statement, in the last couple of minutes, from the Pentagon. It comes, of course, after six British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosive offences and terrorism and then bailed."
He added: "Those suspicious vans were spotted near the military site in Gloucestershire last weekend."
The announcement sparked fury among viewers on social media. One commented: "Another sign of Britain’s weakness and decline." Another remarked: "Can you blame them with this Labour government, it's like asking MacDonalds to look after your cow."
A third echoed: "Shows how little were trusted under this shambles of a government." A fourth claimed: "Britain can't be trusted in the eyes of our closest allies. We're compromised as far as they're concerned." Meanwhile, one slammed: "First sign of danger to them and off they pop, how convenient."
Background at RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford has been used in recent months by US bombers after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British bases for "defensive" strikes against Tehran in the Middle East war.
Following a 999 call about masked men, counter-terror police said a quantity of petrol but no explosive devices were found in the three vans that sparked the security alert near the airbase.
Five British nationals were arrested on suspicion of explosive offences and terrorism and then bailed. Police said a dual UK-Iranian national was also released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts.
Those arrested are a 24-year-old from Camden, north London; three men aged 23, 24 and 25 from Westminster, central London, and one man aged 24 from Willesden, north-west London.
Senior CTP national co-ordinator Vicki Evans previously said the investigation is "hugely complex", adding that specialist teams are "interrogating multiple lines of inquiry". She said: "As we’ve made clear, we’re looking at all possible angles, including possible foreign state involvement."
After the suspected attack, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would chair a Cobra meeting. Mr Burnham told LBC at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that he wanted to get the "full picture" on what had happened at the base in Gloucestershire used by the British and US air forces.
At the time, the UK leader said: "I want to thank the police, the Gloucestershire Police, the security services, the emergency services, the public who alerted us, so thank you to everybody for the way that they’ve worked. What I can say is that I will chair a meeting of Cobra later this afternoon just to make sure we have the full picture, the full situation very clearly in our sights, and so maybe we’ll say more about that later today."
