US removes all bombers from RAF Fairford base
BBC News 2026-10-04 21:33:28
Context: The US has withdrawn all its bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a British military base, after a major incident on September 27 involving suspicious vehicles and six men arrested on suspicion of terror offences. The men, including a UK-Iranian national, were later released on police bail. The incident is being investigated by counter-terror police.
Key Facts
- The US removed all its bombers from RAF Fairford base back to their home stations in America, according to a statement from a US department official on Sunday.
- Five UK nationals from London, aged between 23 and 25, were arrested on September 27 on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act near the airbase.
- A sixth man, a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts and released on bail.
- RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades.