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.
UK Holds Five on Bail Near U.S.-Used RAF Fairford Without a Charge or Device Finding
UNITED KINGDOM — Five UK nationals arrested near Royal Air Force Fairford remained on police bail on September 29, still under investigation and still uncharged.
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.
Locations Affected
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.
