US pulls long-range bombers out of UK after alleged ‘terror plot’

The Pentagon has reportedly recalled its long-range bombers that were stationed at a Royal Air Force base in the UK after an alleged “terror plot” targeting the facility.

Both Associated Press and CNN confirmed from different sources that the bombers had been recalled to their home bases.

“We can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” an unnamed US official told CNN.

The official said it was in connection with an unspecified “real world” threat.

The US had stationed multiple B-1 and B-52 long-range bombers at RAF Fairford, about 160km east of London, for strikes on Iran during the recent conflict.

The base has long been used by the US military for operations in the Middle East.

It was recently allegedly targeted as part of a suspected “terror plot”, which saw five men arrested and then released on bail last week.

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British-Iranian man arrested on suspicion of ‘preparation of terrorist acts’ in connection with UK airbase plot

According to police, the men were arrested after three vans were stopped, allegedly on their way to the base, after midnight last Sunday (UK time).

The men were identified only as UK nationals aged between 23 and 25. They were released without charge, though subject to strict bail conditions as the investigation continues.

On Thursday last week, a British-Iranian man, 27, was arrested on suspicion of “preparation of terrorist acts” in connection with the alleged plot.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that authorities believe Iran is linked to the incident, a claim Iran’s embassy in London has denied.

The UK Ministry of Defence has not commented on the US withdrawal of its bombers.