Trump admits to moving planes from British base after threats

US President Donald Trump has said the US has moved its bombers from the Royal Air Force base in Fairford due to "some threats".

The Pentagon announced the evacuation of its bombers on Sunday (October 4). It is believed that about a dozen B-1 bombers flew from Fairford Air Base to the United States.

The move comes after several people were arrested earlier on charges of planning a terrorist attack outside the base.

Speaking to reporters on Monday (October 5), Trump said the United States had some threat information, which is why the planes were diverted.

Asked if they were removed because of a threat, Trump said, "Yes, I guess we can say that. They didn't just fly away."

He added, "There were some threats. We will not just entertain the enemy, we will catch them and beat them. But what is the need to keep them (bombers) there? That is why we have moved them a little. Not too far away."

At the time, he said that Washington knew who had made the threats, although he did not reveal their identities.

Fairford was used as a key base for US bombers participating in the war against Iran that began on February 28.

The Fairford base, located about 100 miles west of London, has been under suspicion of an Iranian-linked attack. On September 27, British authorities arrested five people on suspicion of planning an attack by planting explosives near the base. Iran has denied the allegations.

The five were later released without charge. Although petrol was found in their van, no explosives were found.

Then, on Thursday, British police arrested a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national in London and charged him with planning an attack on the airbase.

Source: BBC