U.S. European Command: Bombers Leave RAF Fairford for Home Stations

UNITED KINGDOM — U.S. European Command said on October 4 that the bombers deployed to RAF Fairford were redeploying to their home stations, and a U.S. Air Force statement the same day said every U.S. bomber that had been deployed there had redeployed to home stations in the United States.

The Air Force statement said operational security had precluded confirmation of the movement in real time. It also said U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world for readiness and operational requirements.

The acknowledgment came seven days after the September 27 arrests. The command did not say the investigation was the reason for the departure. No U.S. or British official statement had reported casualties, an explosion, or damage to aircraft from that investigation by October 5.

• RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England: Royal Air Force station operated by U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and the U.S. Air Force’s European airfield for heavy bombers. Published airfield position 51.682, -1.790. Approximately 72 miles (116 km) west of central London, a distance computed from that position and central London at 51.507, -0.128. Runway 09/27 is published at 9,993 feet (3,046 meters). ICAO identifier EGVA. The 501st Combat Support Wing is the U.S. host wing.

• Whelford, Gloucestershire: Village east of the station where Counter Terrorism Policing said armed officers arrested five men on September 27 after a call about three vehicles. A 400-meter cordon was placed around the vehicles, and about 85 households were evacuated while Army explosive-ordnance disposal examined the scene. No official coordinate for the stop had been published by October 5.

Latest Developments

• U.S. European Command said on October 4 that the bombers deployed to RAF Fairford were redeploying to their home stations, and a U.S. Air Force statement said all of them had redeployed to the United States.

• Counter Terrorism Policing said on October 3 that a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, arrested in Westminster on October 1, had been released on bail, and that the Gloucestershire investigation was continuing.

• Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on October 1 that Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi summoned British ambassador Hugo Shorter and rejected the Fairford allegation.

• Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said on September 29 that no improvised explosive devices were found in the vehicles and that a quantity of petrol was recovered.

• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on September 30 that there were “strong indications” Iran played a part in the weekend incident, and the Iranian Embassy in London had already rejected that link.

Official Levels

• Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, published by MI5: The threat to the United Kingdom from all forms of terrorism is SEVERE, which MI5 defines as an attack being highly likely. The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre set that national level on April 30, and the MI5 page showed no change in October. The MONITORING reading above is not that scale. SEVERE is the standing national likelihood of a terrorist attack in the United Kingdom, not a rating of the October 4 bomber movement or a finding that Fairford was attacked.

Commands Say the Fairford Bombers Are Back at Home Stations

On October 4, U.S. European Command said the aircraft “are redeploying to their home stations.”

A U.S. Air Force statement the same day said, “While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States.”

The statements did not give the number of aircraft, the hour of departure, or the names of the home stations. They also did not mention the September 27 investigation.

The Air Force statement added that U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements, and that crews of B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers remain ready to launch and recover from the continental United States.

Official Statements

• U.S. European Command, October 4: “are redeploying to their home stations.”

• U.S. Air Force statement, October 4: “While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States. U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements. The Airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities, including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States, anywhere, anytime.”

• Counter Terrorism Policing, October 3: “A man arrested on Thursday (1 October) in connection with events at RAF Fairford on Sunday (27 September) has been released on bail. The 25-year-old man, a dual UK/Iranian National, was arrested in the Borough of Westminster, London, on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Searches of two properties in the same area have now concluded. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding events in Gloucestershire is continuing.”

• Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, October 1: “The recent propaganda campaign by the British government, which has leveled a baseless accusation under the pretext of an alleged attempt to carry out sabotage at the Fairford base, can in no way overshadow Britain’s complicity in the military aggression against the Iranian people, and the British government must be held accountable for its participation in the crime of aggression and war crimes committed by the United States and the Zionist regime.”

• Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister, October 1: “I can confirm Iran’s belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all.”

• Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, September 30: “There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation. And of course, we are working closely with our colleagues in the United States of America.”

• Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, September 29: “Those vehicles have been subject to extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts, and we can confirm that no improvised explosive devices were found. However, a quantity of petrol was recovered. Yesterday we released the five men on police bail. They remain under investigation and must adhere to strict conditions while we continue our work.”

• Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, September 29: “What happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the U.K. over the weekend is a very serious situation. It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor.”

• Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London, September 28: “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base.”

• Vicki Evans, Counter Terrorism Policing Senior National Coordinator, September 27: “A 400m cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the Army’s Explosive [Ordnance] Disposal unit conduct examinations. As a precaution, around 85 households have been evacuated whilst these examinations take place.”