US withdraws B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot
publishers 115articles 147first reported 27 Sep, 14:15 UTCdeveloping since 27 Sep · 22 editionstop 25 #18
The United States has withdrawn all 12 B-1 bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in England, days after British police arrested six men in connection with a suspected plot targeting the base.
A Pentagon spokesman said the aircraft had returned to their home stations in the United States, adding that operational security had prevented officials from confirming their movements in real time. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the withdrawal, said the bombers were removed because of security concerns related to suspected plots against the base.
Five British men in their 20s were arrested near Fairford on September 27 after reportedly leaving three vans and running into nearby fields. Police found petrol but no explosives in the vehicles. A sixth suspect, described as a dual British-Iranian national, was later arrested in London. All six have been released on bail while the counterterrorism investigation continues.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran played a role. Iran has rejected the allegations as baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the accusations.
RAF Fairford, west of London, had been used by the bombers for US strikes against Iranian missile sites. The Pentagon said the US bomber force remained capable of conducting global strikes, while a senior NATO military official said the withdrawal would not affect the alliance’s defensive capabilities.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 114 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 115
- Source articles
- 147
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 114 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →