U.S. Recalls B-1 Bombers From U.K. Air Base After Men Allegedly Plotting Attack Released

After six men were arrested in connection to an alleged bombing plot at an air base in the United Kingdom, the United States is recalling its B-1 heavy bombers from the area. All six of the men who were arrested are now out on bail. The decision to return a dozen Rockwell B-1 Lancers from RAF Fairford was made due to security concerns about potential attempts at attacking American assets at the base. The recall of the bombers was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. As of Sunday evening, all bombers had begun the trip back to American airspace. RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire to the west of London, has been a critical hub for American bombers during the war with Iran. President Trump has complained consistently for months that American allies are not aiding in his bombing campaign, including allowing American aircraft to refuel at European air bases. Over the summer, Mr. Trump got into a nasty back-and-forth with Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, after she refused to allow American aircraft to use Italian bases during the war. She called his criticisms “senseless” and suggested he keep an eye on his own approval rating.On September 27, the British government announced that it had arrested five men in suspicious vans near RAF Fairford. No explosives were found in their vehicles and all five were later released on bail. A sixth man was later arrested and was similarly released on bail on Saturday. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Sky News in an interview last week that his government was investigating the incident, but that he and others believed there was sufficient evidence showing that Iran had played some part in the attempted attack on the air base. “We have been waiting to confirm what we could say, but we can now confirm our belief that Iran played a part,” Mr. Burnham said. “This remains, though, a complex and very serious police investigation, so I can’t say any more at this stage.”The head of the U.K.’s counterterrorism police force, Laurence Taylor, said in a statement last week that the five men originally arrested and later released on bail are still under investigation. Even though they are not currently in police custody, they are “subject to stringent conditions on their movement and contact with others,” Mr. Taylor said. “I know there is significant interest in whether the current geopolitical context has a bearing on this incident,” he continued, ensuring the public that they “are considering this from every possible angle.“Including, that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state,” he said. After the arrests, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News’s “Hannity” that there was a foreign actor involved in the plot to bomb RAF Fairford, though he did not offer specifics. “What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor. I won’t get into great detail about that yet,” Mr. Rubio said.

U.S. Recalls B-1 Bombers From U.K. Air Base After Men Allegedly Plotting Attack Released

U.S. Recalls B-1 Bombers From U.K. Air Base After Men Allegedly Plotting Attack Released

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