US pulls all bombers from RAF Fairford after new threat linked to suspected terror plot

گزارش کامل

A Pentagon official said Sunday (Oct 4): "all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States." Aircraft trackers showed B-1 Lancers departing through the day, with some reaching their home base in South Dakota the same day.

The move followed a week of arrests over a suspected plot targeting the base. On Sept 27, five British men in their mid-20s were arrested near the base after a farmer reported three suspicious vans and masked men in the Cotswolds; officers found quantities of petrol but no explosives. On Oct 1, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national was arrested in central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. All six have since been released on bail, and the investigation continues.

US officials told the New York Times the redeployment was ordered after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend. CNN cited an official describing a "real world" threat and noted it is unusual for bombers to be sent home rather than repositioned within the region.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week there were "strong indications" of Iranian involvement, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed to "the hands of a foreign actor" and President Trump also pointed to Iran. ایران این ادعاها را بی اساس خواند و سفیر انگلیس را احضار کرد. داونینگ استریت روز دوشنبه اصرار داشت که RAF Fairford "امن" است و وزیر دفاع وس استریتینگ به دفاع "آزموده شده و آزمایش شده" پایگاه اشاره کرد.