Withdrawal of American bombers from base in Britain, Rubio: Not unusual

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that the departure of American bombers from the British military base at Fairford is not unusual, refusing to directly link the aircraft’s departure to the alleged attack plan.

“You are focusing on the Fairford planes only because of last week’s threat. It is not unusual to see rotations and cyclical movements of forces based on planned exercises,” Rubio said from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, adding that the USA and the United Kingdom work closely together on the security of the base.

For its part, the office of the British Prime Minister in Downing Street refused to comment on the military operations of foreign states.

Responding to concerns from local residents, a spokesman said the United Kingdom has “proven methods to protect its bases”.

In the same vein, the British Ministry of Defence also avoided taking any position. The USA has withdrawn the B-1 bombers stationed at the British military base at Fairford, following an incident that led to the arrest of six suspects, the Pentagon announced on Sunday.

“All American bombers deployed at RAF Fairford have returned to their American bases,” the Department of War said in a statement.

At the end of September, British police responded to a call to the emergency services near the Fairford base in southern England regarding three suspicious vehicles.

Six men were subsequently arrested, five Britons at the scene, then a British-Iranian several days later, as they are suspected of “preparing a terrorist act”. They were temporarily released on bail by the courts.