A B-1 bomber takes off from RAF Fairford airbase as the US removes its aircraft Credit: Via Reuters/@CraigYoungMedia
The news yesterday that the USA had withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the scene of a rather bizarre (according to mainstream media reports,) security incident being investigated by counter-terror police.
An official statement from The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the bombers - thought to be about a dozen B-1s - had left the base, having been recalled back to their home stations in America.
US media reported a new threat led to the bombers being removed, which follows the incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase. So far reports on the story in mainstream media have oscillated between a very poor parody of a Bond film and a Keystone Cops silent farce.
A short time ago President Trump said the US moved its bombers out of RAF Fairford because of new threats to the base.
Asked if there was a "specific threat" that led to the removal of the US bombers, Mr Trump replied: "Yeah I think we can say that.
"They didn't fly out by accident.
"There were some threats. And rather than tempting the enemy, we'll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit. Not very far."
It comes after US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the removal of the US bombers was not directly connected to the arrests of five men near the base.
The incident has drawn particular attention because RAF Fairford has been used for US military operations involving Iran since Britain authorised Washington to conduct specific defensive operations from the base in March
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a foreign actor may have been involved, while Iran has denied any connection.
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