Pentagon cites operational security for delay; UK MoD declines comment
British officials characterized the release on bail of the six suspects arrested in connection with the RAF Fairford investigation as an “investigative decision … grounded in experience and strategy,” United Press International reported Sunday. The five men detained outside the base and another arrested in London have been released on bail, but British counterterrorism police are continuing to investigate the situation.
The Pentagon separately confirmed that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucester, England, have been redeployed to home stations in the United States. In a statement issued to multiple media outlets, American officials said operational security had prevented real-time confirmation. “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 that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States,” the officials said.
The British Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the Pentagon statement, the BBC reported.
The releases followed arrests last week of five men in vans near the base and a sixth in London. The men were taken into custody on suspicion of violating explosives possession laws. The five men detained at the base have been identified as British nationals from London, police have said. The sixth suspect, arrested in London, is a dual Iranian-British national.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the arrests at RAF Fairford held “strong indications” of Iranian involvement.
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials were aware of an Iran-linked plot to attack the bomber aircraft and kill personnel at the base, which the American military has used to “launch missions in the war against Iran.” Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.