What happened
The US has removed its B-1 bombers from a UK base after a suspected Iranian terrorist plot was reported. The bombers, which are part of the US Air Force, were stationed at RAF Fairford air base northwest of London.
According to the British government, there were strong indications that Iran was involved in the suspected plot. The incident occurred earlier in the week, with British counterterrorism detectives alerted to three vans heading towards RAF Fairford on September 27.
Five men were initially arrested in connection with the security incident but were later released on police bail. A further suspect, a 25-year-old dual citizen of the UK and Iran, was arrested on October 1 but released two days later.
The Pentagon has confirmed that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have been redeployed to their home stations in the US. The planes had previously been used for US strikes on Iran.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that a complex and serious police investigation into the incident is ongoing, with detectives working closely with their US counterparts. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also commented on the incident, saying that it could have developed into a very serious situation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected claims of Iranian involvement, stating that the release of suspected terrorists on police bail says it all. The incident has raised concerns about the security of US interests globally, with the US and UK cooperating closely to investigate the suspected plot.
