RAF Fairford is protected, No10 insists after US pulls out fighter jets over ‘terror plot’

Andy Burnham’s official spokesman insisted on Monday that RAF Fairford is safe after the US withdrew at least 10 B-1 bombers following reports of fresh security planes

View 3 Images

No10 has insisted RAF Fairford is safe despite the US withdrawing fighter jets from the base over security concerns.

At least 10 B-1 bombers were removed from the Gloucestershire base on Sunday and sent back to the United States. Reports in the US said a new threat had been identified following the arrest of six suspects over a suspected terror plot targeting the base.

The aircraft stationed at Fairford had been used in strikes against Iran since March. Andy Burnham has said there were strong indications of Iranian involvement in the alleged plot.

Asked whether the UK government believes RAF Fairford is safe, the PM’s official spokesman told reporters: “Yes.” But he refused to provide further detail, stating: “We are not going to comment on foreign nations’ military operations.

“As the Defence Secretary (Wes Streeting) said last week, we have tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world.

“I’ll just point to the fact that the professionalism and quality of our police, defence, and security services relating to the incident at RAF Fairford have been publicly praised by the President of the US.”

Asked if that meant there was no good reason for the US to pull bombers out of RAF Fairford, the PM’s spokesman said: “So as I say, I’m not going to comment on foreign nations’ military operations, that’s for them to speak to.”

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that aircraft stationed at the base had been moved. Military experts said the decision will impact Washington’s capacity to strike Iran.

The withdrawal of planes came a week after counter terror police opened an investigation into an incident on September 27.

Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, who were arrested near the base have since been released on bail. A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national aged 25, was arrested last week. He has also been released on bail.

Locals have voiced their relief after the planes were flown out. Tristan Wilkinson, who lives nearby, told the BBC: “The last few months have been particularly difficult, the noise levels have been high and they’ve been operating 24 hours a day.”

And Geoff Lawson, who lives in Kempsford, said: “I’m quite pleased they’re gone because it’s been quite noisy.” He said recent months have been very invasive.

US officials told the New York Times the bombers had been removed after more specific details about threats to the base emerged over the weekend.

A Pentagon spokesperson said on Sunday: “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.”

The base, close to the village of Whelford in the Cotswolds, has been used by the US Air Force for decades. It was first opened in 1944.

The suspects were arrested after three suspicious vans were spotted near RAF Fairford. No explosives were found inside, although police did discover a quantity of petrol.

Ezra Cohen, a defence official during Donald Trump’s first administration, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The B-1 bomber is a strategic asset, and we’re going to take steps to protect it, from all sorts of threats.”

He said the move will increase the cost of striking Iran, as aircraft will either have to fly from the US or use other bases in Europe. Earlier this year Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use British bases to launch defensive strikes against Iran.

Following the US withdrawals, Lib Dem defence spokesman James MacCleary said: “The decision by the United States to withdraw from RAF Fairford is a deeply concerning development that raises serious concerns about security standards across UK military bases.”

He called on Mr Streeting to provide an update on a comprehensive security review of all military bases following a security breach at RAF Brize Norton in June

On Thursday last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel had handed Britain intelligence about the suspected terror plot. And US President Donald Trump has previously said he was “disappointed” after the suspects were released on bail.

He said: “We were involved in (the investigation), but as you know, your fellow countrymen let them go. Well, they didn’t let them go. They put them out on bail. I assume they haven’t watched closely… they should not have done that.”