The United States removed its B-1 bombers from a UK air base one week after several men were arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, a Pentagon official said on Sunday (October 4).

A dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at RAF Fairford, northwest of London. The aircraft were used in U.S. strikes on Iran.

"While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have returned to their home stations in the United States," a Pentagon spokesman wrote in an email.

Britain has "strong indications" that Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday. Iran said the allegations were baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the issue.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that the aircraft had been removed from the base amid security concerns linked to suspected terror plots against the facility.

The British government had allowed the United States to use bombers based at RAF Fairford to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - APRIL 8, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SIGN READING (English): "Royal Air Force Fairford / U.S. AIR FORCE" AT RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 27, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. VARIOUS OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING A B‑1B LANCER BOMBER, IN RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE, WHICH HOSTS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF) PERSONNEL

3. VARIOUS OF POLICE CORDON NEAR RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE

IN AIR, FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 27, 2026) (BBC NEWS - No use UK) (MUTE)

4. AERIAL OF POLICE CORDON, WITH VEHICLE PARKED ACROSS ROAD

5. AERIAL OF BOMB DISPOSAL VEHICLES PARKED IN ROAD

6. AERIAL OF STATIONARY VANS, ONE WITH BACK DOORS OPEN AND BOMB DISPOSAL ROBOT MOVING TOWARDS ONE OF THEM

7. AERIAL OF BOMB DISPOSAL ROBOT NEXT TO ONE OF THE VANS

8. AERIAL OF THREE PARKED VANS, TWO WITH BACK DOORS OPEN

9. AERIAL OF BOMB DISPOSAL VEHICLES PARKED IN ROAD/ VANS AROUND CORNER OF ROAD (RIGHT)

10. AERIAL OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES PARKED AT FAIRFORD YOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB, NEAR RAF FAIRFORD

11. AERIAL OF POLICE HELICOPTER FLYING

12. VARIOUS OF AERIALS OF RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE, INCLUDED PARKED MILITARY AIRCRAFT, WHICH HOSTS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF) PERSONNEL

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 27, 2026) (UK POOL - Broadcast: No use UK. Digital: No use UK (except UK newspapers))

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLICE ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLE, RICHARD OCONE, SAYING:

"So, at around 12:45 a.m. today, Sunday the 27th of September, police received a call relating to three suspicious vehicles travelling towards RAF Fairford. Armed officers responded and subsequently arrested five men in the Whelford area on suspicion of committing offences under the Explosives Act. The men were taken into custody where they remain. A 400-metre cordon has been put in place around the vehicles while the army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit examine them."

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 27, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. VARIOUS OF PARKED MILITARY AIRCRAFT AT RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE WHICH HOSTS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (USAF) PERSONNEL

KENT, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 28, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

15. FRONT PAGES OF BRITISH NEWSPAPERS

16. DAILY MAIL FRONT PAGE READING (English): "Trump says suspects 'were looking to do big damage' and praises 'amazing' British police"

17. DAILY MAIL FRONT PAGE READING (English): "Five arrested in early hours after three vans spotted near air base used by U.S. bombers"

18. THE TIMES FRONT PAGE READING (English): "Iran link investigated in 'terror plot' at RAF base"

19. THE SUN FRONT PAGE READING (English): "Farmer foils RAF bomb plot"

20. THE DAILY MIRROR FRONT PAGE READING (English): '999 call foils 'terror' plot"

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - APRIL 8, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

21. VARIOUS OF MUNITIONS SITTING ON TROLLEY NEAR B-1B LANCER MILITARY AIRCRAFT PARKED AT RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE

22. PLANE SPOTTER BEHIND FENCE

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (ARCHIVE - JULY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

23. BANNER READING (English): "SHUT DOWN THE BASES" / PROTESTORS

24. SIGN READING (English): "U.S. - War Crimes base'"

25. MAN KNEELING / BANNER READING (English): "NO UK BASES FOR TRUMPS BOMBING"

26. POLICE VEHICLE / EXTERIOR OF RAF FAIRFORD AIRBASE

27. B‑1B LANCER MILITARY PLANE

28. MUNITIONS / B‑1B LANCER MILITARY PLANE

29. VARIOUS OF B‑1B LANCER MILITARY PLANES