UK: Fairford Air Base secure despite withdrawal of US bombers
London confirms continued investment in base security despite withdrawal of US aircraft and suspected Iranian assets
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
London, Oct 5 (KUNA) -- A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister’s office (Downing Street) confirmed on Monday that Fairford Air Base in Gloucestershire, western England, remains secure despite the withdrawal of several US bombers. He added that the UK “will not comment on the military decisions of other countries.” The spokesperson affirmed that the British government will continue to invest £470 million (approximately $621 million) in securing defense bases across the United Kingdom.
In a related development, a US Department of Defense (Pentagon) official stated that “all US bombers previously deployed at Fairford have been redeployed to their home bases within the United States.” The official added that “the aircrews operating the US bomber fleet, including B-1, B-2, and B-52 aircraft, remain on high alert to carry out precise global strikes, including operations that launch from and return to US territory at any time and place.”
Fairford Air Base was the target of a suspected terrorist attack on September 27, when five British men in their mid-twenties were arrested on suspicion of involvement in explosives and terrorism-related offenses near the military base. They were later released on bail. Additionally, a dual British-Iranian national was arrested on October 1 and also released on bail.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated last Wednesday that there were “strong indications that Iran played a role” in the incident. (End)
